Notes on use of Unix CAD software

CAD software is supported for use on the Shackleton building SUN SPARCstations running the Solaris 2 Unix operating system.
The software also runs on the ECS department's CAD server, salvador, although not all students are permitted to log onto salvador directly.

Primary CAD users

If your primary use of Unix workstations is for CAD you should follow the procedure described here:

1. Find a free SPARCstation in the Shackleton building and log in using the OpenWindows desktop.

   To get an OpenWindows desktop you will need to select OpenWindows Desktop from the Session submenu of the Options menu before you log in.

2. Copy standard CAD startup files to your home directory.

   Type the following command in a suitable terminal window such as the one labelled CONSOLE.

         ~bim/script/copy.files
   

3. Log out

   Use the right (MENU) button on the mouse held down over the blue desktop area of the screen to select Exit... You will be asked to confirm that you wish to log out.

4. Log in again using the OpenWindows desktop.

   If all goes well your screen layout will change and you will have access to all CAD commands. In future you should get the OpenWindows desktop and access to CAD commands without having to repeat steps 1 through 3.

Secondary CAD users

The procedure described above will replace your startup dot files with files suitable for CAD use. If you have already customized your Unix account you may wish to restore your original dot files after completing CAD work. In this case you should follow the procedure above but with slight modifications:

• Preserve your dot files in a directory ~/olddots when copying startup files.

        ~bim/script/copy.files -p
  

• Recover your dot files at any time - note that you will no longer be able to use CAD tools.

        ~bim/script/copy.files -r
  

Other Expert users

Some users may feel that the enforced uniformity of the CAD setup cramps their UNIX style. If you are one of these users, you can run CAD tools via the CAD environment called from any terminal window using:

      ~bim/script/CAD

Note that you could incorporate commands from the ~bim/script/CAD script in your own startup files to avoid having to remember to type the command every time.

In any event if you chose to brand yourself an expert user you will have to take more responsibilty for any problems you encounter. It is usual for problems to be dealt with only after they have been demonstrated on a standard CAD setup.

Departmental Linux machines may be used to run CAD software in the following way:

1. Set up your account as described above.

2. Log onto the Linux machine using 8 bit graphics:
   

   • From the standard login screen type <ctrl>+<alt>+<F1> to get a text login prompt. When you log in you should be asked to choose a server for X. If you choose local, you should get the standard blue openlook desktop to indicate that things have gone well.

     For those users with permission, you will be able to choose salvador as the server for X. This enables you to log in directly to salvador. In this case the linux box is simply a glorified terminal - the rest of this document does not apply to you, you are now using a SUN SPARCstation not a linux box.

3. Run local and remote CAD tools:

   • Local CAD tools
     

     The Linux workstations currently support "Magic" and "Spice". The VeriWell simulator is also available but offers less functionality than the Verilog-XL simulator available remotely. For more information see: CAD tools under Linux.

   • Remote CAD tools
     

     For other CAD tools you will have to remotely log onto a CAD configured SUN SPARCstation (e.g. oak or salvador). Using the Remote Login utility on the Workspace->Programs menu you will get a new window on the appropriate machine - if you use this utility you should find that new windows open correctly on your local display - you can test this by typing "xterm &" in the Remote Login window.

   N.B. There is a known problem with the video drivers on the newer, Pentium II, Linux boxes resulting is graphic display errors which can be corrected using "Window -> Refresh" (or Magic's :redraw).