Linux Options

In order of preference:

1. Use the Linux workstations set up in EB 424-425 (Analog Lab).
2. Use the Linux workstations set up in EB 423 (Digital Lab) during open times.
3. Use a Linux VM image on a flash drive (specs: 128 GB, USB 3, 100 MB/second access speed). You can then plug the flash drive into a Windows or Mac computer that has VMware installed.
4. Use your own personal computer to run a Linux VM if you have at least 60 GB of drive space for VMware and the Linux image. If you don't have 60 GB of space, you can use a flash drive for the VM image as described in the previous option.
5. Run Linux native on your personal computer

If you need to install Linux, use Ubuntu 22.04. Do not use the VM image from the 330 website, although the VM setup instructions may be helpful to you.

In all cases, you will need access to a ZYBO board. The Analog and Digital Labs have ZYBO boards near a workstation. Do not move bare ZYBO boards between the labs. The Analog Lab only has a few laser tag kits (with ZYBO boards) in the back of the room that can be shared for testing and pass off.

When connecting a ZYBO board to a host computer, please make sure not to disconnect the USB cable from the board micro connector (the small connector). Please connect/disconnect the big end of the USB cable. The micro-USB connector on the ZYBO board is very fragile and is nearly impossible to repair.

Finally, it is the student's responsibility to backup their files. If you lose files and are unable to restore from a backup of those files, there is nothing that I can do. For those using the VM, the easiest thing to do is to take regular snapshots of the VM and to store those snapshots in a secure location. VMs do get corrupted from time to time and it is usually an easy matter to restore your VM (and the filesystem) from a previously-saved snapshot.