Author: lindsey

Goodwin 524 Conference Room

Posted on by lindsey
Jump To:
  1. Available Technologies
  2. Utilization Examples
  3. Teleconference PC
  4. Presenter TV
  5. Meeting Owl Camera
  6. Conference Phone

Available Technologies

Every meeting is unique and may require multiple technologies. Below is a list of equipment available in Goodwin 524 so you can tailor the room to your needs.

Test Your Setup!

Make sure you test your technology setup prior to the scheduled meeting time to ensure you understand the process and resolve any technical issues.

EquipmentUses
Teleconference PC– Hosting or attending a virtual/hybrid meeting
Presenter TV– Hosting or attending a virtual/hybrid meeting from your personal computer or device
– Presenting slides or other media to an in-person audience from your personal computer or device
Meeting Owl 360° Camera– Displaying all in-person guests in a virtual meeting using the Teleconference PC
Conference Phone– Dialing into a virtual meeting (audio only)
– Hosting or attending a meeting over the phone
Whiteboard– Collaborative in-person brainstorming
Presentation Remote– Navigating through a slideshow presentation
– Highlighting key points using the built-in laser pointer
Ethernet– Connecting to the internet (not the QSC wired network)

Utilization Examples

The Teleconference PC will be the main meeting attendee. It will handle the room’s camera and microphone input for the in-person guests via the Meeting Owl Camera and display the virtual guests on its TV.

In-person presenters will join the meeting on their computer to share content. If you have more than one in-person presenter, consider designating one presenter computer and have all the presenters use it to share their content with the meeting to minimize technical issues.

Optionally, you can also use the Presenter TV if you wish to show the content to the in-person guests on a different display than the meeting guests.

Before the meeting starts…

  1. Invite the Teleconference PC to the meeting.
    • See our help page on the internal booking website.
  2. Invite your presenter(s) to the meeting. They will need it to share their presentation.

When it’s time to join…

  1. Join the meeting on the Teleconference PC.
  2. Optional: Connect the presenter’s computer to the Presenter TV to view presentations on a separate display.
  3. Join the meeting on the presenter’s computer.

You can connect your laptop to the Presenter TV using the available HDMI cable (and adapter, if needed) to display content to in-person guests.

Teleconference PC

The Teleconference PC is a computer that is available for use while in GW524. It has its own Teams account already signed in and can be invited to your meeting.

Click for usage information

Using the PC

  1. Turn on the TV using the remote pointed towards the Teleconference TV.
  2. Using the wireless keyboard (with built-in touchpad) also labeled Teleconf TV, log into the PC’s SOC Guest account using the password listed on the keyboard’s label. You may need to press a key or use the trackpad to wake up the computer first.

When you are finished using the PC, lock the computer by pressing ⊞ + L.

Device Settings Quick Guide

Accessing Teams/Zoom Device Settings

SetupSettingDevice
Meeting OwlSpeakersMeeting Owl 3
MicrophoneEcho Cancelling Speakerphone (Meeting Owl 3)
CameraMeeting Owl Camera
Video BackgroundNone
WebcamSpeakersLG TV Speakers
MicrophoneMicrophone (Logitech BRIO)
CameraLogitech BRIO
Video BackgroundNone

Presenter TV

The Presenter TV can be connected to your personal computer. It is best used to share your screen with in-person guests, or to view virtual meeting guests when attending a meeting on your own device.

Click for usage information

Connecting to the Display

  1. Plug in the HDMI cable found on the table into your computer. Various adapters are available if your computer does not have an HDMI port.
  2. Turn on the TV using the remote pointed towards the Presenter TV. Wait a few seconds for the TV to detect the computer input.
    • If the TV still reads “No Signal”, check the TV is on the right input. Press the input  button on the top right corner of the remote and select the GW524 Presenter input.
    • If required, configure your display and audio settings.

    Meeting Owl Camera

    The Meeting Owl Camera is a 360° camera used with the Teleconference PC to show each in-person meeting guest at the conference room table. It has an automatic spotlight feature that focuses on the active speaker.

    Click for usage information

    The Owl Bar

    The Owl Bar is a supplementary camera that provides an additional view of the active speaker so the software can best select an angle where they are facing the camera. It will mainly capture the active speaker while they are facing virtual guests on the Teleconference TV.

    Even if the devices fail to connect, the tabletop Owl will remain functional.

    Pairing the Owls

    The Owl Bar pairs wirelessly automatically with the tabletop Meeting Owl 3. During the pairing process, the lights on both devices flash so their cameras can spot each other.

    Make sure to face the tabletop Owl towards the Owl bar and the lights on both devices are unobstructed.

    Conference Phone

    The conference phone can be used for ingoing or outgoing calls, including group conference calls. It can also be used to dial into a virtual meeting’s audio. It has a dedicated phone number as listed below.

    +1 (613) 533 – 3303

    Click for usage information

    Keypad Quick Reference

    Calling

    General

    • Starting a call – Dial the phone number on the number pad and press  to initiate the call.
    • Answering incoming calls – Press .
    • Ending calls – Press  .
    • Muting/Unmuting – Press . The LEDs will turn from blue to red when muted.
    • Increasing volume – Press .
    • Decreasing volume – Press .
    • Hold – Press . The LEDs will turn from blue to flashing red when the call is on hold.

    Redialing

    1. Press an arrow button ▲ / ▼ to bring up the call history.
    2. Use the arrow buttons to navigate to the number you wish to redial.
    3. With the number is selected, press  to start the call.

    Three-Way Calling

    1. If you are not already in a call, phone your first participant.
    2. Once they have answered, press  again. A second dialing tone will be heard.
    3. Call the second participant.
      • If they answer – Press  and then 3. This will connect all three participants into one call.
      • If they do not answer – Press  to return to the first call.

    Conference Calls (Up to Six People)

    1. Press the  button.
    2. Use the arrow buttons ▲ / ▼ to select QUICK GUIDE and press OK.
    3. Dial the first participant’s phone number and press OK.
      • If they answer – Press OK and continue to the next step.
      • If they do not answer – Press ●🠈. You will be asked if you would like to redial that person:
        • Redial – Press OK and return to the start of this step’s outcomes.
        • Do not redial – Press ●🠈. You will be asked if you want to call the next participant or end the process:
          • Next participant – Press OK and continue to the next step.
          • End – Press ●🠈.
    4. If you have more participants to call, press OK and repeat step 3. Otherwise, press ●🠈 when you are finished.

    Dialing into a Meeting

    To view the steps, click on the tab for your meeting platform.

    Microsoft – Join a Teams meeting by phone

    Open the meeting details to locate the phone number and phone conference ID.

    • Email – The details are in the body of the meeting’s email invitation.
    • Desktop – Click on the meeting in your calendar. Expand the meeting by clicking the arrows in the top right corner. The details are listed under the Details tab. You may have to expand the Show join info header.
    • Mobile – Click on the meeting in your calendar. In the Details tab under the Join button, click See More to reveal the full meeting description.

    The details should look like the image below. The local phone number is the first 10 digits (plus area code) before the double commas. In this example, the phone number is +1 343-302-7449. The rest of the number is the conference ID.

    Then, call the meeting’s phone number without the conference ID. When the call is connected, follow the instructions to enter your conference ID.

    Zoom – Joining a Zoom meeting by phone

    Changing Your System Audio and Display Settings

    Posted on by lindsey
    Table Of Contents
    1. Display Settings
    2. Audio Settings

    Display Settings

    In the Display settings, you can adjust how your computer displays content on your screens. Some options include:

    • Screen resolution
    • Refresh rate
    • Scaling of text, apps, and other items
    • Multiple display layout and presentation mode
    • Screen brightness (laptops)

    Display settings can be found in the Settings app, under System > Display.

    Display settings can be found in the System Settings app, under Displays.

    Setting Up Multiple Displays

    Microsoft – How to use multiple monitors in Windows

    1. Connect any additional monitor(s) to your computer.
    2. Press ⊞+ P to open projection settings. A popup will appear above the taskbar’s clock. You can also use the full menu in the Settings app.
    1. Click on the display you’d like to configure and choose your presentation mode.
      • To show the same content on multiple displays: Choose Duplicate.
      • To use your monitor as a additional display: Choose Extend. You can rearrange the monitor layout by…
        • Select More Display settings at the bottom the the projection popup.
        • Once the Display menu is open in the Settings app, you can click Identify to determine the identification number of each display as shown in the bottom left corner.
        • Click and drag the numbered displays into your desired configuration. Click Apply to save your layout.

    Apple – Use an external display with your MacBook Air / MacBook Pro

    1. Connect any additional monitor(s) to your computer.
    2. From the menu bar, open the Apple menu and select System Settings… or System Preferences…, depending on your macOS version.
    3. Click Displays from the side bar or grid of options, depending on your macOS version.
    4. Click on the display you’d like to configure and choose your presentation mode.
      • To show the same content on multiple displays: Choose Mirror for Built-in display from the Use as dropdown. You can choose what display to use as the target resolution by…
        • Select the display to optimize resolution for under Optimize for dropdown.
        • NOTE: This will most likely change the resolution for your laptop and resize your desktop. You may wish to set up your screen content before choosing the optimize resolution if you’re connecting to a higher resolution display.
      • To use your monitor as a additional display: Choose Extended Display from the Use as dropdown. You can rearrange the monitor layout by…
        • Click Arrange…. Move the displays into your desired configuration. When you’re satisfied, click Done.

    Troubleshooting Display Issues

    If you’re still having difficulties getting your displays to work properly, try these suggestions.

    • Make sure all cables are connected securely.
    • Restart your computer.
    • Perform any system updates, restarting your computer to apply them if needed.
    • Turn your displays off and back on.
    • Ensure your displays are on the correct input. If there’s more than one option for your intended cable type, try each source.
    • Try various combinations of cables, connecting to different computer ports and display inputs. The port or the cable might be the issue.
      • If your display and computer has different input types, try an adapter.

    Audio Settings

    In the Audio settings, you can adjust how your computer handles audio playback and audio sources. Some options include:

    • Input device and volume
    • Output device and volume
    • Default devices for playback versus communication

    Audio settings can be found in the Settings app, under System > Sound.

    Audio settings can be found in the System Settings app, under Sound.

    Setting Up Speakers

    Microsoft – Fix sound or audio problems in Windows

    1. Connect any speakers or headphones to your computer.
    2. Click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, and then the > button next to the volume slider. You can also use the full menu in the Settings app.
    3. Under the Output heading, select the device you wish to use for audio playback.

    Apple – Change the sound output settings on Mac

    1. Connect any speakers or headphones to your computer.
    2. From the menu bar, open the Apple menu and select System Settings… or System Preferences…, depending on your macOS version.
    3. Click Sound from the side bar or grid of options, depending on your macOS version.
    4. Under the Output & Input header, click Output to show your playback devices.
    5. Select the device you wish to use.

    Setting Up Microphones

    Microsoft – Fix sound or audio problems in Windows

    1. Connect any microphones or headsets to your computer.
    2. Right-click on the speaker icon in the taskbar, and choose Sound settings to access the menu in the Settings app.
    3. Under the Input heading, select the device you wish to use for audio input.

    Apple – Change the sound input settings on Mac

    1. Connect any microphones or headsets to your computer.
    2. From the menu bar, open the Apple menu and select System Settings… or System Preferences…, depending on your macOS version.
    3. Click Sound from the side bar or grid of options, depending on your macOS version.
    4. Under the Output & Input header, click Input to show your input devices.
    5. Select the device you wish to use.

    Troubleshooting Audio Issues

    If you’re still having difficulties getting your audio devices to work properly, try these suggestions.

    • Make sure all cables are connected securely.
    • Restart your computer.
    • Perform any system updates, restarting your computer to apply them if needed.
    • Turn your audio devices off and back on, if applicable.
    • Ensure your devices are not muted and the input/output volume is raised.
    • Set your audio device as the system default.
    • Check your in-app audio device settings, if applicable.
    • Check your microphone privacy settings are enabled for the app(s) you wish to use. You can find this in your system’s Settings app, under Security > Microphone. See steps for Windows and Mac.

    Virtual and Hybrid Meetings

    Posted on by lindsey
    Jump to:
    1. Accessing Device Settings
    2. Sharing Content

    Accessing Device Settings

    To view the steps, click on the tab for your meeting platform.

    Microsoft – Manage your device settings in Microsoft Teams

    To access the settings inside the desktop app:

    1. In the top right corner of the title bar, click on the ··· (Settings and more) beside your profile picture. Click on Settings.
    2. Click Devices from the sidebar to open device settings.

    TIP: In the Settings > Device > Audio category, there is a button to Make a test call. This will let you try out your audio and video configuration and make sure everything is set up correctly.

    To access device settings before joining a meeting:

    On the join meeting screen, device settings are located…

    • Audio: Select the Computer audio option from the list in the right plane to output audio through the PC. Click the toggle icon to change your audio settings.
    • Video: Click the gear icon located under the video preview on the left plane to change your camera settings.
    • Background/Blur: Change your background with the Background filters button under the video preview on the left plane.

    To access device settings while in a meeting:

    Along the meeting bar, click on the arrow ˅ beside the Mic button for audio settings and Camera button for video and background/blur.

    Zoom – Changing settings in the Zoom desktop/mobile app

    To access the settings inside the desktop app:

    1. Open the Zoom Desktop app.
    2. On the main page, click on your profile picture and click Settings.

    To access device settings while in a meeting:

    1. Click the arrow ˄ beside the Video button in the meeting window’s menu bar to bring up additional options. Click Video Settings… to open the Settings window. Once the device settings are open, you can change between setting categories with the sidebar.

    In Zoom, you have to join the meeting’s audio to use your microphone and hear other guests. To do so…

    • If a popup titled Choose ONE of the audio conference options appears when you join the meeting, click the Join with Computer Audio button.
    • Otherwise, look at the bottom left corner of the meeting window’s menu bar. If it reads Join Audio , click it, and select the Join with Computer Audio button.

    To always join audio when entering a meeting, enable the Automatically join audio toggle at the bottom of the Choose ONE of the audio conference options window before clicking the Join with Computer Audio button.

    Sharing Content

    To share content like a PowerPoint or your screen to meeting guests, click on the Share (Teams) or Share Screen (Zoom) button from your meeting’s menu bar. Here, you can choose to either share a specific app window, or your entire screen.

    Heads Up!

    To protect confidential or personal information, you should be mindful of what you’re showing on screen.

    Only share the presentation window instead of the whole screen whenever possible. Close any unnecessary browser tabs, files, chats and applications. Consider silencing your desktop notifications to prevent distractions and revealing information.

    Teams Tip!

    If you’re sharing a PowerPoint, you can use the PowerPoint Live feature to share the presentation directly into the meeting. Guests can customize their viewing experience without affecting the live presentation, while presenters retain access to their notes and guest view.

    To do so, choose the file from the Share Content window when you’re choosing what to share with the guests instead of sharing a PowerPoint window.

    Including Desktop Audio

    If you’d also like to share desktop audio, you’ll need to enable some additional settings.

    To view the steps, click on the tab for your meeting platform.

    Microsoft – Share sound from your computer in Microsoft Teams meetings or live events

    If you have not started sharing:

    After clicking Share , enable Include sound before you begin sharing.

    If you have already started sharing – From the toolbar along the top of the screen (you may need to hover your mouse there to reveal it), click Share Sound . You can also disable it by clicking Share Sound again. The line through the icon means sound is not playing.

    Windows

    If your computer’s audio device is different than the meeting’s audio device, you will receive the following error message:

    Matching your computer’s audio device to the meeting’s audio device will resolve the issue. See…

    • Audio Settings on how to change your computer’s audio device.
    • Device Settings on how to change your meeting’s audio. Only adjust the audio device settings to change your Speaker.

    Mac

    You’ll need to install the latest Team’s audio driver to include computer audio in Teams meetings. See the Microsoft Support Article for more information and the driver download link.

    Zoom – Sharing background music or computer audio on Zoom

    If you have not started sharing – After clicking Share Screen, turn on Share Sound before starting the share screen. If you don’t see the right options plane, you might need to click Layouts and options to show it.

    If you have already started sharing – Click More ··· from the share screen’s menu bar and select Share sound. The green bar below the menu bar that reads You are screen sharing will have a speaker icon when sound is being shared.

    Hybrid Presenters

    During a hybrid meeting, presenters will need to join the meeting to share their content with the virtual guests.

    Consider presenting from a single designated computer if you have multiple in-person presenters, or are sharing the content full screen on a separate display for in-person guests. Each presenter will then access their content via the designated computer, minimizing technical issues that could arise from setting up multiple computers.

    For the purposes below, the main meeting attendee is the computer that is overseeing the camera and microphone input for the in-person guest(s).

    1. If the presenter’s computer is not the main meeting attendee, mute the computer.
    2. Join the meeting on the presenter’s computer.
    3. If the presenter’s computer is not the main meeting attendee, mute the presenter’s microphone and turn off the camera.
    4. Share the presentation by clicking the Share (Teams) or Share Screen (Zoom) button.

    SFTP to Linux Using Cyberduck (Windows, Mac)

    Posted on by lindsey

    Cyberduck is a free1 cloud storage browser with support for all kinds of protocols and services. One of those protocols is SFTP, which you can use to access your files on CASLab.

    For the example below, we will be demonstrating using a CASLab Linux server. If you are trying to connect to another Linux server or machine, please replace the following:

    • Nickname: Whatever you’d like to call this connection.
    • Server: The server/machine’s URL (like files.caslab.queensu.ca) or its IP address.
    • Username and Password: Your credentials to log onto that specific server/machine.

    Once you have downloaded and installed Cyberduck and launch it, you should see a window that looks like this:

    Click the “+” button at the bottom left side (highlighted above). This will add a new bookmark. Select “SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)” from the dropdown. Give it a name like “CASLab” and use files.caslab.queensu.ca as the server. Then type your CASLab username and password and close the window.

    Now you should see an item called “CASLab” (or whatever you called it) in the list.

    Double click that new item to open a connection to CASLab. You may be prompted to accept an encryption key. Click “Allow.” (Check the “Always” checkbox to avoid this prompt in the future.)

    And then you should see your files.

    If you have any problems, please consult the FAQ first, then contact us if you’re still having difficulties.

    1. Cyberduck is donationware, which means it makes money from donations (pay what you want). It’s free, but you will be prompted to donate from time to time if you have not already donated and obtained a license key. You can get it by going to the Cyberduck website, or from the Windows / Mac store, but if you get it there, it will cost money (around $30 at the time of writing). There is no difference between the paid version and the free version – it’s just something to be aware of. ↩︎

    CASLab F.A.Q.

    Posted on by lindsey

    Top questions:

    What is my CASLab username and password?

    As of Fall 2023, your CASLab username and password are your Queen’s NetID and password.

    Note: Do not include @queensu.ca in your username.

    How do I discover my Queen’s NetID and password?

    General information about NetID can be found on the Queen’s NetID Information page.  To activate your NetID, go to the registration page, after which the password can be changed by following the instructions here.  You will need your student number handy.

    How do I get access to the labs?

    Access to CASLab teaching facilities in Goodwin Hall 230, 248, and Walter Light Hall room 310 is granted through the use of iButtons. iButtons are available for a small fee at the Campus Bookstore.

    Please see the iButton enrolment tutorial for more details.

    Can I run Linux and Unix applications from home?

    Yes, you can remotely log in using an SSH client. See How To section for instructions.  Students wishing to use graphical applications can do so using the X2Go client.

    I have downloaded Putty and tried to connect to Linux from home. It warned me that the authenticity of the host could not be established. Is this a problem?

    This warning is normal and should only show up the first time you connect to the Linux machine. Feel free to disregard it.

    Nothing happens when I try to SSH to a CASLab machine / I get a “connection reset” or “connection timed out” message.

    This is the result of your IP address being blocked from too many failed log in attempts. Please fill out an IP unblock request from the computer and internet connection your were blocked on.

    In the meantime, IP blocking is server specific, so you can still get your work done. For example, if you were blocked on linux1.caslab.queensu.ca, try linux2.caslab.queensu.ca.

    What computer should I get for my studies?

    See our computer recommendations here.

    Use X2Go Client to Log in to CASLab Linux

    Posted on by lindsey

    CASLab Linux and Unix machines can now be accessed from home using X2Go remote technology. X2Go allows users to have full-screen sessions at nearly full speed even over fairly slow connections from home.

    X2Go is already installed on all CASLab machines.

    Installing X2go on your machine

    Download X2Go for your platform (Win, Mac, Linux) and install it.

    Mac OS X Installation Note

    There are a couple of extra steps you’ll have to do to install X2Go on a Mac. When you first open X2Go, you may get the following notification:

    First, if you see this, you will have to go to your system preferences and then go to “Security and Privacy.” At the bottom of the window, it should display a message about X2Go being blocked. Simply click the “Open Anyway” button and you shouldn’t have to worry about it again.

    The second step is to install an X11 server which can be obtained from the xQuartz homepage. If you don’t have it installed, you’ll get this notification:

    Download XQuartz from the XQuartz homepage or simply click the link in the dialogue (shown above). Installation is fairly simple. Click the icon and go through the package installation wizard.

    After installing XQuartz, you must log off and log on again for it to be detected. After doing that you should be able to proceed with these instructions.

    Configuring X2Go

    Once you’ve installed the X2Go client, open it with this icon:

    X2go_icon

    You will be prompted to start a new session:

    X2go_session

    Fill it out as seen below. For the Host, use one of:

    • linux1.caslab.queensu.ca
    • linux2.caslab.queensu.ca
    • linux3.caslab.queensu.ca
    • linux4.caslab.queensu.ca
    • linux5.caslab.queensu.ca
    • linux6.caslab.queensu.ca
    X2go_session_config

    Once your session is complete, you should see something like this:

    X2go_session_connect

    Click on the session “CASLab Linux” to the right. You will now see:

    X2go_session_connect_2

    After you enter your password and click OK, something like the following will display:

    X2go_session_connecting

    The first time you connect, you will be prompted to save the host key. Click “Yes.”

    X2go_session_connecting_firsttime

    In Windows, depending on your firewall settings, you may see the following. Click “Allow access”

    X2go_session_connecting_win_firewall

    Once you’ve successfully connected, you will be presented with the standard CASLab Linux desktop. Congratulations! You’re connected!

    (Note: Depending on settings, your desktop may look a little different.)

    When you’re done, don’t forget to log out. You can do this by clicking the power button in the applications menu at the top left. (Depending on your settings, you may instead have to click your name at the top right of the screen.) If you don’t, your session will continue to bog the system down for others, even when you aren’t using it.

    CASLab iButtons

    Posted on by lindsey

    Access to CASLab teaching facilities in Goodwin Hall 230/248, and Walter Light Hall room 310 is granted through the use of iButtons. iButtons are available for a small fee at the Campus Bookstore.

    Enrollment

    To enroll an iButton, a student must go to any CASLab door and, with their mobile device or laptop, go to the CASLab Account Management Tool. (If you don’t have a mobile device or laptop to use, ask a friend or see one of the tech staff). Log in to the Account Management Tool using your Queen’s NetID and password. Go to “Enroll an iButton.” On the next page, select the door you are standing in front of.

    Now, press your iButton against the reader of the door you’re standing at and press the “Scan” button.

    That’s it. It may take a few minutes to take effect.

    Notes

    • iButtons need only be enrolled once. Returning students will not have to re-enroll.
    • Access to CASLab facilities is only granted to students currently enrolled in a CISC course.
    • Replacement iButtons (lost/stolen/traded) must be enrolled by the tech team. They cannot be enrolled by the student.  Please report any lost or stolen iButtons.

    If you experience difficulty with iButton registration or use contact help@cs.queensu.ca.

    Computer Recommendations

    Posted on by lindsey

    Specifications

    • 16GB of RAM minimum (32GB is even better.)
    • Quad core CPU (Intel i5 or higher, AMD Ryzen 5 or higher, Mac M1/M2)
    • 512GB SSD or NVMe for storage. (256GB as an absolute minimum; 1TB is ideal.)
    • Thunderbolt 3 or newer. This looks like a USB-C port but allows people to plug in external GPUs (eGPUs).  This means that you can use a laptop with an integrated (Intel) GPU day-to-day, connecting to an eGPU when needed for Deep Learning, AI, and Game Development courses.

    Hardware Recommendations

    If you are looking for specific brand or model recommendations, please consider:

    • Dell XPS 13 or 15
    • Lenovo ThinkPad T Series or X1 Series
    • Any Apple MacBook1
    • Microsoft Surface Studio Laptop, Surface Laptop, Surface Book (although only the Surface Studio Laptop includes the aforementioned Thunderbolt port)

    Suggestions

    If you are considering a gaming laptop, we recommend an Nvidia GPU, as they are the standard for scientific computing. However, if the machine has Thunderbolt 3, you will be able to sign out an appropriate eGPU when needed.

    Our students will not need to purchase a copy of MATLAB, Microsoft Office or development tools, as Queen’s and the School of Computing have licenses that will cover them while they are studying here.

    Depending on the budget and needs, if two devices are an option, you may like to have a larger laptop for major development and then something small like a Microsoft Surface, iPad, or Chromebook for taking notes in class. Or a gaming desktop at home that you can use for heavy duty development, and a slimmer laptop for taking back and forth. However, note that an iPad or Chromebook on their own are NOT sufficient for taking most of our courses because you will not be able to install the software you need on them.

    1. Note: Apple’s ARM-based processors (M1, M2, etc) are well-supported, but you may run into issues using it for some tasks (mainly running virtual machines, required by some courses). In these cases, we try to provide accommodations which could require you to come use one of the PCs in our labs. ↩︎

    Understanding Unix and Linux File Permissions

    Posted on by lindsey

    Unix file permissions are expressed in three octal digits. Running ls -a from a Unix (or Linux) terminal on a file with permissions 644 might look like this:

    -rw-r--r--    1 bhall  staff      2216  6 Dec  2007 x11_update.sh

    The first, or left-most, octal digit (“6” in this example) indicates a file’s owner’s (your) permissions, the second a user group’s permissions, and the third public permissions (applying to everyone else).

    Here is a table of values showing the effect that each of these octal digits has on a specific owner or user group’s permissions.

    OCTALBINARY*EFFECT
    0---No permissions (access blocked)
    1--xExecutable**
    2-w-Writable
    3-wxWritable, executable
    4r--Readable (read-only)
    5r-xReadable, executable
    6rw-Readable, writable
    7rwxReadable, writable, executable
    * Each octal digit can be represented in three bits corresponding, as read from left to right, to read (r), write (w) and executable (x) permissions. Thus, a 6 octal digit, normally written 110 in binary, shows up in a directory listing as rw-, meaning read and write permissions are granted, but not execute.
    ** Directories must have the executable bit set to be accessible

    So, a file with permissions 755 would be readable, writable, and executable for you (as the file’s owner), and readable and executable, but not writable for the group and for the world (public). To apply this set of permissions to a file called myscript, you would run the following command in a terminal window:

    chmod 755 myscript

    Generally, folders need to have permissions 755 for everyone to be able to read the contents, and files need to have permissions 644 to be viewable but not editable by anyone other than you.

    If these are web files, Apache (the web server) runs as another user, so files edited by Apache have to be writable by the Apache process, so the file(s) have to be at least group writable if Apache’s user is in your group.

    Of course, you should give least permissions, so if Apache needs to edit a particular file, it should be as weak as 666, but the directory that the file lives in can be 755, and other files can be 644.

    For further reading, see https://www.tutorialspoint.com/unix/unix-file-permission.htm.