Connecting to CSE using VLAB

• Download and run the appropriate version of TigerVNC vncviewer from the following links:

  TigerVNC for Windows (32-bit)
  TigerVNC for Windows (64-bit)
  TigerVNC for macOS (click view in browser first)

  Move the VNC viewer application to somewhere you will be able to find it later. In macOS, you may want to move this to your Applications folder. On windows, you may want to move it to your desktop.

Steps to Connect

 

Every time you want to use VLAB you will need to do the following:

1. Start your TigerVNC viewer
   • On Microsoft Windows, double click on the exe file.

   • On macOS: double click on the dmg file you downloaded and then double click on the viewer icon in the window which opens up.

     Note: if TigerVNC does not open when you click on it or you see the warning below, you will need to take a few extra steps to get TigerVNC to work:

     1. Use Finder to locate the TigerVNC application.
     2. Right click (or cmd + click) on the TigerVNC icon, and select 'Open'.
     3. On the dialogue box that appears, select 'Open' again.

     This should allow you to open it normally in future.

     

2. Enter your VNC server as vlab.cse.unsw.edu.au:5920

   

3. Log into VLAB using your zid/zpass.

   

4. You may (or may not) need to set up VLAB if you haven't connected to it before. If so the following dialogue box will appear. You should select XFCE4 from the window that appears.

    

   

   You may (or may not) be asked to select a panel config as shown in the screenshot below. Make sure you click the "Use default config" button.

    

   

5. Assuming you chose XFCE4 you will see something like:

   

   This is a Linux environment and this is your desktop.

It is best to set up a more more modern terminal program than barebones xterm as the system default when first setting up VLAB, so perform these steps to get a more usable terminal:

• 1) click the Applications Menu in top left, select Settings then select Preferred Applications.
• 2) click the Utilities tab, and select Xfce Terminal
• 3) open the Terminal using the icon on the icon bar in the centre of the screen, and you should see a black terminal window come up with an Edit menu with Copy/Paste options within it.

You will learn more about using Linux and how to use this environment throughout the course. But for now well done!

Need more help?

For more information about connecting to the CSE machines through alternatives to VLAB, you can view our more comprehensive guides to connecting to CSE and transferring files. This is a good alternative for anyone who:

• Wants to expand their computing skills beyond what is required
• Have an unstable internet connection or terribly slow computer, whereby using a plain terminal may be easier
• Is using OSX and isn't able to run TigerVNC as per the instructions above

For more information on using Max OSX to connect to the CSE machines, we have Detailed youtube videos outlining the process

For more information about VLAB and for alternatives to connect from different devices, see the documentation: http://taggi.cse.unsw.edu.au/Vlab/

If you are in overseas (especially in China) and have remote connecting problems, please check: https://www.myit.unsw.edu.au/services/students/china-students-access-network