Cygwin Installation

Posted Mon, 2009-03-30 13:05

Overview

Cygwin is a Linux-like environment for Windows. It consists of two parts:

  • A DLL (cygwin1.dll) which acts as a Linux API emulation layer providing substantial Linux API functionality.
  • A collection of tools which provide Linux look and feel.

    Installation

    • Download and run the latest beta setup executable available from here from Cygwin. You will see the scren below. Click "Next >".

    Cygwin Net Release Setup Program

     

    The default installation type is "Install from Internet". Do not change this setting as it is fine for the purpose of installation Cygwin. Click "Next >".

    Choose A Download Source

     

    Select the directory where you want to install Cygwin. The default installation directory of "C:\cygwin" is required. You can install Cygwin for yourself or All Users. For convenience, leave it as it is. Click "Next >".

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    Select a directory where you want Setup to store the installation files it downloads. The directory will be created if it does not already exist. Leave the default location as it is unless you have a dedicated folder for internet downloads. Click "Next >".

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    Cygwin's setup program needs to know how you want to connect internet. Direct connection will work most of the time unless you have to use a proxy. If you are able to connect internet with IE, then you can make setup use the same settings. Click "Next >"/

    Select Root Install Directory

     

     

    Choose a download site. Make sure you select a mirror closer to your location. After selecting a mirror, click "Next >".

     

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    Next scren will show the download progress. This will only download the package database.

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    Cygwin has hundreds of packages that you probably never need or use so only select the minimum amount of packages. For that, select openssh package located under "Net" package group. The scroll down and  

    Select Packages

     

    Click on "Default" next to X11. Default will become "Install", this will install all X11 packages. Click "Next >".

    Select Packages

     

    The following screen will display the progress of the download and installation of packages. It will take a long time. So it is time to go get a cup of coffee.

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    Once the installation is complete, click "Next >". This will create the necessary links on the programs menu and create a link on the desktop.

    Select Root Install Directory

     

    In order to connect to HPC servers to use an application with GUI, you need to start X-Windows first so go to Start->Program Files->Cygwin-X and select X-Win. It will start the X-windows and an xterm. Use this xterm to connect to HPC servers. For instance, if you want to connect to hpc01 then type,

    ssh -X login@hpc01.me.utexas.edu &

    Then type the command to run your application, i.e. fluent, gambit, matlab, ...

    Select Root Install Directory