Duke University
Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development

Computing & Statistics Lab

Getting Started with the Geri System

Irv Eisen, Nov. 1999

Introduction

Intended Audience -

     This guide is intended for the UNIX computer users in the DUMC Center
for the Study of Aging and Human Development. The system is often referred
to as the 'geri system.' The guide is not intended to duplicate the UNIX
man pages, on-line help within a specific application or commonly 
available manuals and books. Therefore, it has been customized for use in
the Aging Center as a getting started guide for new and novice UNIX users.

     This is not the 'Geri System for Dummies.' Nor is this the
'Unabridged Tome of All That Is Geri.' Typical of technical documentation
the plot is thin and characters shallow. Its primary purpose is to get you
started and to point you to more complete documentation. The first time 
through, you should just scan it to see what is here. Then focus on
whatever chapter you need when you need it. It will be helpful to be
logged on to the geri system while you are reading this guide so you can
try the examples and to get more information from the man pages.

What is the 'geri system'? -

     The 'geri system', taken from the Aging Center's tcpip 
domain name, geri.duke.edu, is actually made up of three separate 
computers, each of which has its own ip name and address -
rubin.geri.duke.edu, gerisparc.geri.duke.edu and garcia.geri.duke.edu.

     Rubin is the primary application server running such programs
as email, various editors, Staroffice, SAS and Splus. Rubin should be the
machine you always log on to for your interactive sessions.

     Gerisparc is primarily a mail server. Rarely, if ever, will you log
on to this machine. You will use gerisparc if you are using pc email 
software by configuring your software to use "geri.duke.edu" as your
incoming server and your outgoing (SMTP) server. 

     Garcia is the department's web server. You cannot log on to it at
all. You use it by pointing your web browser to http://www.geri.duke.edu.

     All three of the geri computers are manufactured by Sun Microsystems.
Rubin is a Sun Ultra 10, gerisparc, a Sun Ultra 5, and garcia, a Sun Ultra
1. All run a version Sun's Solaris operating system; the command 'showrev'
will tell you which version.

     For a list of the software that is available on the geri system,
enter the command 'software'.

An Operating System with Many Options -

     The UNIX operating system is what is known as an 'open' operating
system. Since its inception its source code has been freely available to
anyone who wants it. Consequently many people have modified and enhanced
it giving the user community a sometimes overabundance of ways to do the
same thing. For example, the geri system offers a number of different text
editors, including vi, ed, ex, emacs, pico and StarOffice. It offers three
different ways to read your mail, interactively with 'mail' or Pine or in
client server mode from a pc with any of a number of pop or imap clients,
such as Eudora, Outlook or Netscape.

     Each user can evaluate these and other options and determine what
will work best for him or her. Brief descriptions of some of these
programs are included in this guide.

Conventions Used in This Document -

     Examples of commands will be enclosed in single quotes. Such words
as 'path', 'directory', or 'filename' will be used as place holders or
variables. You should enter the actual value for those variables. Most
of the time you will need to press the 'Enter' or 'Return' key after
entering a command or after entering data in response to a prompt.
Since this action is so common, these instructions will not tell you
every time you need to press 'Enter'. 

     For example, if you are being instructed to copy a file, it will
look like: 'cp filename1 filename2'. You need to know 'filename1' and
make up 'filename2'.

     Notice that the punctuation symbols for the sentences are put outside
of the single quotes. This may appear grammatically incorrect, but it is
done this way so no one will think that they are a part of the command.
Some commands use punctuation symbols that have very specific functions.

     Also note that UNIX is case sensitive, so, if you edit 'filename', 
you will not get the same thing as if you edit 'FileName' or 'Filename' or
'FILENAME'.