[an error occurred while processing this directive]

<div class="contenttitle">
  Setting up your Zoo Account
</div>

<h4>Logging In</h4>
<p>
  Logging in is a simple process. Sit down at a node, and press Return
  if necessary to get the login prompt (the workstations blank their
  screens after a while to prevent burn-in). Type your NetID and password 
  where indicated, choose a kernel if desired and press Go.
</p>

<h4>Changing Your Password</h4>
<p>
  To change your password go to Yale ITS' 
  <a href="http://www.yale.edu/password/">password maintenance page</a>.
</p>
<p>
  For tips on password protection please see ITS' article
  <a href="http://www.yale.edu/its/security/Articles/Omnibus/netidsec.html">
  Protecting your Yale NetID</a>.
</p>
<p>
  Keep in mind that anyone who knows your password has unrestricted
  access to your account and the information within. You should be the
  only person with this access. Anyone who logs into your account has
  the ability to alter or damage the data within, as well as to
  represent him or herself as you on the internet. To make sure that only you 
  have access to your account, please observe these guidelines:
  <ul>
    <li> <u>Never</u> give your password to <u>anyone</u>. Likewise, don't
      try to obtain other people's passwords. If you need to share files or
      programs with someone else, you can provide limited access to certain
      files and directories by making them world- or group-readable, or by
      using a collaborative development system like RCS or CVS.</li>
    <li> If you suspect that someone is tampering with your account,
      change your password. It is actually a good idea to change your
      password on a regular basis (once a month is reasonable, more
      frequently if you are paranoid).</li>
    <li> <u>Do not</u> write your password down or save it in a file on
      your account. Such information all too easily ends up in the wrong
      hands.</li>
  </ul>
</p>

<h4>Changing Your Shell</h4>
<p>
  When you log in and get to a prompt the operating system starts a program
  called a <i>shell</i>, which allows you to launch programs and interact with
  the file system. All commands you type at the shell's prompt are interpreted 
  and executed by the shell.
</p>

<p>
  There are several different shells, and you may not like the default
  shell. If you'd like to change your shell, type <tt>ypchsh</tt>. The 
  <i>/usr/bin/chsh</i> program (short for <u>ch</u>ange <u>sh</u>ell) will
  display your old shell and ask you for a new one.  The preferred method for
  changing your shell is through the web interface at
  http://zoo.cs.yale.edu/accounts.html.  The list of
  supported shells in the Zoo includes (but is not limited to):
  <dl>
    <dt>/bin/tcsh</dt>
    <dd><a href="http://www.tcsh.org/">Tcsh</a>, an enhanced version of the 
      Berkeley UNIX C Shell, csh.</dd>
    <dt>/bin/bash</dt>
    <dd><a href="http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/bash.html">Bash</a>, the 
      "Bourne Again Shell," which is the standard GNU shell.</dd>
    <dt>/bin/csh</dt>
    <dd>The Berkeley UNIX C shell; considered 
      <a href="ftp://ftp.cs.uu.nl/pub/NEWS.ANSWERS/unix-faq/shell/csh-whynot">
      harmful</a> by some authorities.</dd>
    <dt>/bin/zsh</dt>
    <dd><a href="http://zsh.sunsite.dk/">Zsh</a>, the Z Shell, designed for 
      compatibility with ksh, the Korn Shell.</dd>
    <dt>/bin/sh</dt>
    <dd>The generic Bourne shell. Not recommended.</dd>
  </dl>
</p>

<h4>Setting Up Your Environment</h4>
<p>
  Initially your login environment will have a plain-vanilla setup. You
  may want to customize your login and logout procedures, your shell,
  and your window manager. This setup is done by editing certain files
  in your account, called <i>dot files</i> (because their names begin
  with a dot (.) character). The default behavior of <tt>ls</tt> is to ignore
  dot files, so you may wish to run it with the -a option to have them
  displayed. Here are a few tips to get you started:
  <ul>
    <li>Most of the dot files for the shells are just a list of commands for
      the shell to execute when it starts (i.e., when you log in). By
      customizing these files, you can have your shell perform certain tasks
      for you automatically. For example, add the line
      <tt>/usr/games/fortune</tt> to your <tt>.bashrc</tt> file (if you're 
      using bash as your shell) to run the fortune program, which prints out
      a random inspirational / humorous quote, every time you log in. See the
      documentation for your particular shell for more information on
      customizing its dot file.</li>
    <!--<li>The <tt>.xsession</tt> is a shell script (i.e., list of commands) that
      X Windows runs when it starts up the server. By editing this file, you
      can specify a window manager (controls the display and management of
      windowed X applications) or a desktop manager (creates a 'desktop'
      interface -- a trash bin and icons for disk drives, e.g.  Desktop
      managers often include built-in window managers or launch a window
      manager of your choice).-->
    <li>You can use the "Session" menu on the login screen to specify a window
      manager (controls the display and management of windows X applications) 
      or a desktop manager (creates a 'desktop') interface -- a trash bin and 
      icons for disk drives, e.g. Desktop managers often include built-in 
      window managers or launch a window manager of your choice).
      <ul>
        <li>
          The desktop managers installed on the Zoo include:
          <dl>
            <dt>/usr/bin/gnome-session</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://www.gnome.org/">Gnome</a></dd>
            <dt>/usr/bin/kdeinit</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://www.kde.org/">KDE</a></dd>
          </dl>
        </li>
        <li>
          The window managers installed on the Zoo include:
          <dl>
            <dt>/usr/bin/sawfish</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://sawmill.sourceforge.net/">Sawfish</a>, a 
              lightweight, themeable window manager.</dd>
            <dt>/usr/bin/wmaker</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://www.windowmaker.org/">Window Maker</a>, the 
              official GNUstep window manager.</dd>
            <dt>/usr/bin/icewm</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://www.icewm.org/">IceWM</a>, whose goal
              is speed, simplicity, and not getting in the user's way.</dd>
            <dt>/usr/bin/fvwm</dt>
            <dd><a href="http://fvwm.math.uh.edu/">FVWM</a>, the
              Fill-in-the-blank-with-whatever-word-you-like-at-the-time 
              Virtual Window Manager.</dd>
          </dl>
        </li>
      </ul>
    </li>
  </ul>
</p>   

<h4>What Next?</h4>
<p>
  Play around! Try things. It's the best way to learn about the system.
  Remember that help is always available. (To find out about getting help with
  the Zoo, visit the <a href="getting-help.shtml">Getting Help</a> section of 
  this help system.)
</p>

[an error occurred while processing this directive]