Cygwin Installation Instructions

Cygwin/X provides an X server for Windows, which allows you to run X programs (programs that open a GUI window) on remote Unix systems (such as Strauss) and route the display to your Windows desktop. Detailed information is available at the Cygwin homepage. This guide should help you install Cygwin on your home computer.

This guide consists of two parts: the original installation and using cygwin to connect to Strauss

Installation Steps

1. Download and run "setup.exe" from http://www.cygwin.com/setup.exe
2. Accept all defaults, clicking "Next" until you get to "Choose a Download Site."
3. Choose a download site. "http://mirrors.kernel.org" is a good choice. "http://cygwin.mirrors.hoobly.com" is another good one, in Pennsyvania.

4. The next screen allows you to choose packages. For CISC105, you want two things: openssh and all the X11 packages.
   • For openssh, click the "+" next to the "Net" category. Scroll down until you see "openssh" in the package column (they are in alphabetical order). Click on "Skip" in the openssh row. The word "Skip" should change to a version number. Openssl will also automatically be installed when you do this.
   
   • For X11 packages, scroll down to the X11 Category, and change "Default" to "Install."
   
5. Click "Next." The installer will download the necessary files and install them. Click "Finish."
6. Open Windows Explorer. Open the folder C:\cygwin\usr\X11R6\bin
7. Find the file startxwin.bat. Right click on it, click "Send To," and then click Desktop.

8. Installation is now complete. There should be a shortcut on your desktop to "startxwin.bat," which is what you'll use to start Cygwin.

Using Cygwin To Connect to Strauss

1. To start the Cygwin/X Server, double click the startxwin.bat shortcut you sent to your Desktop. After a few seconds, an "X" icon will appear in your system tray and an XTerm window will open. This is an XTerm running on your computer (not on Strauss).
2. To connect to Strauss, type the following into the xterm:

   ssh -Y udel_username@strauss.udel.edu

   Substituting your UDelNet ID (the username you use to log on to the sunrays) where you see "udel_username". The "-Y" is important: it allows you to use windowed applications, like emacs.

3. Enter your password, and you are connected to Strauss. Any program you run now will be run directly from Strauss, and the X Windows will be sent through the SSH connection to your Windows machine. You should be able to run emacs as you would in the lab, although it will probably be somewhat slower.

Adapted from http://www.udel.edu/topics/connect/sw/exceed/docs-9/cygwin.html by Peter Cline, June 2007.