Workstations
Most offices have computers. If your office doesn't have a computer and you would like one, please send an email to , call us at (617) 253-4995, or stop by 2-170.
Generally, each faculty member or graduate student will have a Linux workstation available for use in his or her office or the computer room in the basement, 2-090a. But any member of the department who would like a workstation is welcome to one. Currently, computers on the Math network are limited to Linux workstations. Please see us if you need to connect Windows or Mac OS machines on the Math network.
Linux workstations currently run Xubuntu operating system with the XFCE Desktop set as the default desktop environment. Once you type in your username and password you are presented with a graphical user environment that is similar to other commercial operating systems.
Users can login to any Linux workstation in the department using their username and password. Your files are stored on a central fileserver and are available from all machines. Given that the Math Department is primarily a Unix-type environment, reviewing the Unix tutorial might be useful.
PLEASE NOTE: users do not have root privileges on Linux workstations. If you need something installed or encounter an issue, please contact us.
Software
On any of the Math Department machines, you will find the following generally used programs.
Email:
- Graphical: Thunderbird
Web Browsers:
Math Software:
Document Typesetting/Processing:
Document Display:
| Program | Information | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird | Graphical email reader/composer. Found under Applications -> Internet |
Thunderbird Support Page |
| Firefox | State of the art graphical web browser. Found under Applications -> Internet |
Firefox Support Page |
| Chrome | Goolge's web browser | Chrome Support Page |
| MATLAB | Technical computing software. Found under Math Department -> MATLAB, or from a terminal type matlab. |
MATLAB Quick Start |
| Mathematica | Technical computing software. Found under Math Department -> Mathmatica, or from a terminal type mathematica For use on personal machines, faculty and staff can get Mathematica from the Department Computer Help Desk. Students can order a copy from MIT here(certificates required). |
Mathematica Learning Center |
| Maple | Technical computing software. Found under Math Department -> Maple, or from a terminal type maple or xmaple for the graphical interface. For use on personal machines, you can obtain a copy of maple from MIT here(certificates required). |
Maple Mastery(certificates required). |
| MAGMA | Computer algebra software. From a terminal, type magma. This software will only run on runge, hypatia, dwork, or archimedes. |
MAGMA Handbook |
| LaTeX | A document preparation system. | LaTex Wikibook |
| evince | A simple pdf/ps document viewer. | |
| xdvi | A dvi file viewer. |