1. Get an account. Fill in the account request form and send it to Stefan Zoller, Botany Department (or come to my office, which will be faster ;-)
2. Install and configure NiftyTelnet (on Macs) or Putty and Pscp (on Windows/DOS PC).
   See below for the download links and the tutorials for help.
3. Learn how to access the computers, how to send/receive files, how to run the software you need (e.g., PAUP) and more. See the tutorials below for specific help on these topics.

Download NiftyTelnet (Mac) or Putty (Windows PC)

The UNIX computers can only be accessed with secure shell (ssh) software. Therefore, you have to use NiftyTelnet or Putty/Pscp. Get a compressed version here and see the tutorials below for help on installation and configuration. Remember, you need to have an account to access the computers.
get Nifty (Mac)
get Putty and Pscp (PC)

Download the tutorials

All tutorials are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. You need an Acrobat Reader to open and print them (available for free from Adobe:

Depending on how your browser is configured, the tutorials will open in a separate browser window or Acrobat Reader will be launched and an Acrobat window with the tutorial appears. Either way, you should be able to save and print the file. If you encounter any problems, send an email to hpcc@fieldmuseum.org or call Stefan at x7846.

Currently, tutorials are available that teach you how to install the secure shell programs on your computer, how to access the helix and alpha nodes, how to send/receive files, how to use UNIX commands, how to edit text with a simple editor (called: vi) and how to use PAUP. There will be more tutorials on other programs and topics on request. Do not hesitate to make suggestions!

• You can receive all the tutorials (Mac versions only) as a compressed folder. Please note that you need Stuffit Expander to decompress the files: download all Mac tutorials now!
  
  
• Download a tutorial on the installation and configuration of NiftyTelnet (Mac, download it now) or the equivalent tutorial for Putty (PC, download it now).
  
  
• Get a tutorial on how to access the helix. Mac version or PC version.
  
  
• Download a tutorial on how to access the alpha nodes. Get it now.
  
  
• Get a tutorial on how to send/receive files. Mac version or PC version
  
  
• Download a tutorial on basic UNIX commands. Get it now.
  
  
• Download a tutorial on vi, a simple UNIX text editor. Get it now.
  And download the "Chicago Professionl Programs in Computer Science" vi
  reference card. Get it now.
  
  
• Download a tutorial on how to use the UNIX version of PAUP (get it now). Check back often, as I will update this tutorial regularly and post some example PAUP runfiles soon.
  In addition, the two (updated!) official PAUP documents are available in PDF format (4.0b Manual and the Quick Start Tutorial). And check out the PAUP FAQ web page, which has a lot of detailed answers on how to use the PAUP commands!
  
  
• Download a tutorial on how to access the hpcc computers from outside the Museum.
  Get it now.
  
  
• Downlaod a tutorial on how to transfer files from and to helix from and to computers located outside the Museum. Get it now.
  
  

Be productive and have fun! And send all comments, questions and bug reports to hpcc@fieldmuseum.org