Documentation for the Helix Systems
| Documentation here is sectioned into three major parts. Unix/Linux tutorials for users unfamiliar with the Gnu/Linux operating system, User Guides for Helix-specific procedures and documentaiton, and the rest is application-specific documentation for software hosted by Helix Systems. |
Accounts - How to get a Helix/Biowulf account and explanation of fees.
Connecting to the Helix Systems - How to connect to the Helix Systems computers, using ssh from within or outside the NIH campus.
Transferring files to/from Helix - How to transfer files between your desktop machine and the Helix Systems computers.
Using SSH Public Key Authentication - How to use SSH keys on the Helix Systems.
Mail - How to use the mail system on Helix.
Policies - Policies for usage of the Helix system.
Printing - How to print from the Helix Systems directly to your networked or local printer.
Startup files - Files that are automatically created in your account, and how to modify them.
Editors - Editors are used to create or modify files. Several editors are available.
Disk Space - Disk quotas and storage options.
Backups - Backup policies, and how to get files restored.
Training - Courses and seminars for users, some taught by the Helix staff. See also Course/seminar notes.
Keeping you informed - Messages displayed at login will keep you informed of new developments. Call or email us if you are interested in particular facilities. News and events are also posted on our web site.
Help - How to contact the Helix staff for questions and problems.
Helix and Biowulf users will make most effective use of the systems if they are familiar with Gnu/Linux. The CIT Training section sometimes has introductory Unix/Linux classes.
Below are links to some tutorials which cover the basics of Gnu/Linux commands.
Introduction to Linux guide located on the the Linux Documentation Project's website.
A Basic Unix/Linux Tutorial, at Oxford University, UK.
Unix Tutorial for Beginners. Eight simple tutorials which cover the basics of Unix, at U. Surrey, UK.
Command-line crash course
Man (manual) pages are the online information/documentation/help on Unix systems. Any man page can be accessed by typing 'man program_name' while logged into Helix.
The Applications section of the Helix website lists all applications available on our systems. For each scientific application there is a Helix webpage with a description of the application, how to use it on Helix or Biowulf, and links to the documentation for that application.
Helix users may read and send mail while either directly logged into Helix or remotely, by means of an IMAP (Internet message access protocol) client, or via the Squirrelmail web interface. Details about email on Helix.
C FAQ
C++ FAQ Lite
Fortran FAQ
Perl FAQ
Java FAQ
Python FAQ
X FAQ
emacs FAQ
Vim Tips Wiki
PBS Batch System on Biowulf
PBS User Guide
Slides and notes from courses and seminars given by the Helix Systems staff.
