Overview of Software at CAEN

CAEN deploys and supports a variety of general purpose and engineering software applications on the Windows and Linux operating systems. CAEN is unique in the breadth and scope of the "industrial strength" engineering and analysis applications it provides for the College of Engineering (CoE). Refer to the online software listing for further details.

Note: Operating system and software version upgrades are typically done during the Spring/Summer semesters. This is the time when CAEN can integrate new software packages into the computer lab environment with the least amount of impact on ongoing courses and projects, since adding new applications can affect the operation of other programs and significant time is required to test the new installations. Requests for software additions and upgrades are prioritized based on staff availability and instructional needs. Faculty who require an application for a course that is not already installed in CAEN labs should refer to our page on course software.

Windows Software

Windows software is stored on either the local hard disks of CAEN PCs, and remotely on Windows servers, depending on the needs of the application. Frequently-used applications and specific courseware are stored locally for faster loading. All applications can be accessed from the Windows Start menu, and are categorized by type. Note: In order to maintain security and the standard software configuration, you can only create, modify or delete files locally in the C:\Temp directory.

Linux Software

Linux applications reside in several locations on CAEN file servers. The /usr/um/ directory houses U-M licensed and third-party software, including word processing and other personal productivity software. Software that is licensed for use only by CAEN account holders, or otherwise specific to the College of Engineering, resides in the /usr/caen/ directory. Applications in this directory are primarily engineering-oriented, with a strong emphasis on high-level mathematical analysis, computer-aided design/engineering (CAD/CAE), and advanced programming tasks.

Selecting Windows or Linux

All CAEN PCs are dual-boot; meaning you can run either Windows or Linux simply by rebooting and making your selection. To reboot from the Windows login screen, press Ctrl+Alt+Del and then click OK to accept the CAEN conditions of use. Click the red arrow in the lower-right corner of the screen, then select Reboot from the menu. If you are already logged in, you will need to log out before rebooting. As the PC reboots, you will be presented with a black screen that shows your operating system options: Windows or Linux. Press the up/down arrow keys to highlight your choice of operating system, and then press the Enter key. To reboot from the Linux login screen, simply select Reboot from the system pull-down the menu.