Introduction

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS is the recommended Desktop platform at SLAC. It is centrally managed by Stanford University IT (SUIT) and Office of the CIO (OCIO) Unix Platform computing. Chef is used for configuration management and compliance.

To request a centrally managed Ubuntu desktop installation, please open a Service Now ticket.

Mailing List

Please subscribe to the ubuntu-l SLAC listserv mailing list for Desktop Ubuntu users at SLAC. This list purpose is to have a communication channel to discuss Ubuntu desktop related issues with other SLAC users. Send an email to listserv@slac.stanford.edu and in the body of the message, type subscribe ubuntu-l .  For example, from a linux prompt:

$ echo subscribe-l | mail listserv@slac.stanford.edu

SLAC Configuration Management

Chef is used to configure Ubuntu desktops.  The following is a summary of the items that are managed and configured by Chef:

• ssh client and server
• authentication
  • SLAC Windows Active Directory is used for authentication
  • Use your SLAC Windows username and password to log in to your Ubuntu desktop
• sudo authorization
• network time protocol (maintain the correct time and date)
• syslog (central logging of system messages)
• software repository proxy configuration (so you can reach apt repositories, even from restricted networks)
• mail (so you can send email)
• message of the day (to comply with DOE and Stanford requirements)

Recommended Software

The following are the recommended applications for personal productivity at SLAC

• slack
• office 365
• FastX
• Microsoft OneDrive
• Cisco AnyConnect
• ClamAV antivirus
• CrashPlan for backup and recovery
• sshfs (access SLAC AFS space without an AFS client)
• Cyberduck or Filezilla for a GUI sftp client
• sftp (ftp via ssh)
• LibreOffice

Accessing SLAC Scientific Computing Resources

• Using rhel6-64 and centos7 login pools with ssh X forwarding
• Using FastX