Using EBEAM


The computer known as EBEAM.WNF.UW.EDU is used for e-beam data preparation, this is, to convert your pattern data into e-beam exposable format. If you’re not clear on the flow, see the diagrams on this page.

To access the e-beam computer, there are a few options.

A note about computer security


It’s a fact that these computers each see a continuous stream of attempted logins from all of the globe, typically using a set list of common user names. Who knows what these folks want to do on this computer, search for interesting information like credit card numbers, or forward lots of spam emails, or whatever. The reality is that the attempts are continuous, and so we have to be vigilant. Likewise, it’s easy enough for bored university folks to run packet-sniffer programs on their local networks, looking for valid passwords on these systems. For these reasons, we must use some common-sense computer security on this and all other computers:

1) Strong passwords. You will be required to have a decently strong password; typically at least 8 characters with at least 1 number and 1 letter.

2) No insecure protocols for connections. Connection protocols such as TELNET and FTP, while simple, pose very real security risks because your uesrname and password are sent in “clear text”, so anyone “listening” on the same local network will see your login credentials. And sadly, here in a university setting, we have to assume someone is likely scanning our local networks for password traffic. A pretty good remedy for this is that all insecure connection protocols that might transmit your password in clear text are explicitly disabled on this machine. This includes HTTP, TELNET and FTP. Instead, the secure alternatives of HTTPS, SSH, and SFTP must be used instead. In these protocols, your credentials and all other communication between you and the host computer are encrypted for transmission.

At present, we are not providing a local computer for you to use for accessing EBEAM for your pattern processing. At one point, I had set this up, but it wasn't getting used, as everyone preferred to use their own laptops. Let me know if this is important to you; it could be configured once again with relatively little work.

There are two distinct methods of remote access in use: remote x-windows and VNC. Both may require some additional software on your computer. X11 works fine, especially if you are on UWs network, but has the unfortunate characteristic that if you disconnect from the network, all open windows and processes are terminated. VNC has a bit more setup overhead, but has the advantage that all work in progress remains open and active regardless of network connections. So if your home connection isn't so robust, or you tend to move around within UW buildings quite a bit, you will likely find VNC to be a more convenient solution (this is what I use.)


X-11 options


From a MAC


You’ve got it easy, as the Mac has X-Windows support built in. (OK, on newer installations, you may be prompted to install X11 the first time you use this, but it's a free download, just no longer shipping in OSX by default.) To access the e-beam computer, open up a Terminal Window (the Terminal application is found in the Utilities sub-folder of the Applications folder). Then, at the command prompt, type the command:

ssh -Y {username}@ebeam.wnf.uw.edu

where {username} is your EBEAM username. (See Rick Bojko to get a username if you don’t have one.) Note that ssh is in lower case, but the -Y must be in upper case. You will be prompted for your password. From the command prompt, you should be able to run KLayout by typing: klayout, or LayoutBEAMER by typing 'beamer' or just lb (ell-bee).

From a PC


You will need to have an X11 windowing system suppot (I haven’t figured this one out yet. Certainly, you could use an X-Windows emulator, such as Exceed, but there may be other options as well.)

From a Unix or Linux computer


Should be trivial, since every Linux/Unix computer I know of already uses/supports X11. You should be able to follow the mac instructions above, although the -Y option may or may not work with your version, so you may need to use -X instead of -Y.


VNC Options


There are many VNC clients available for many platforms, but whichever VNC option you choose, it will have to connect via an SSH tunnel, to meet the security requirements discussed above. Non-encrypted VNC clients should not be used as they expose your password to possible interception.
In any case, connecting via VNC requires some setup on both your computer and the e-beam host computer, so this is best done in person.

From a Mac


I use Chicken, it's a very nice freeware VNC client that directly supports connections through SSH tunneling. (This is an updated thread of an earlier program called Chicken of the VNC, which does not support the required tunneling.

From a PC


You may find online references to using any VNC client and tunneling through using PUTTY as your SSH front-end. This is known to work, but I've also found a single-program solution to does exactly what is required is the Java version of the TightVNC Viewer. Several people are using this successfully, so this is what I recommend. Note that only the JAVA version supports the required SSH tunneling; the garden variety TightVNC still requries a seperate program such as Putty to provide the SSH part.


Using Linux

Both e-beam computers use Unix / Linux based operating systems. The data prep computer (ebeam) runs Linux, while the ebeam machine itself runs Unix. While you don’t have to be a guru to do e-beam work, you will have to understand some basic concepts and commands for simple file-handling procedures on these computers. If commands like pwd or ls -l are completely foreign and obscure to you, I’d recommend you try to work through one of the many Linux tutorials available online.

What seems like a good Unix/Linux tutorial is found here: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Teaching/Unix/
Another very brief overview is found at the over-optimistically named Learn Unix in 10 Minutes.
If you’ve found a useful and clear Unix/Linux tutorial that you’d recommend for other novice users, please pass it on and I’ll include it here.