Software Available on CSE-IT Managed Linux Systems

CSE-IT manages a large number of software packages for our customers including most of the commonly used free and open-source software (FOSS) packages and a number of software packages that are licensed for use. Due to the large number of software packages available we are unable to provide a static listing but this document will assist you in exploring the software available to you on CSE-IT Managed Linux systems. If you are unsure about the availability of a software package feel free to contact the CSE-IT Service Desk and they will be able to assist you further.

Availability of Software

Software packages are generally available on all Linux systems that are managed by CSE-IT (e.g. Workstations and Research Servers) with the exception of licensed software available only on some systems as permitted by software license agreements.

The specific versions of software packages available are constantly changing as software gets updated, upgraded or retired. Only software that is being maintained will be installed and supported. Software that is no longer supported by the vendor will be removed.

Faculty and Teaching Assistants are encouraged to review the software packages they need for their class before the start of a semester. Faculty should contact the CSE-IT Service Desk to request any changes before the start of a semester. CSE-IT cannot guarantee the availability of a software package if it is no longer supported by Ubuntu or if it is requested after the start of the semester as our ability to change the software layout may be limited.

Students should refer to the syllabus or reach out to their instructors for assistance with software and questions related to their use.

Installed Software

Most software is installed directly on your desktop, workstation or server; some legacy software is only available via the modules system. There are a number of ways to determine which software is installed and available for use:

Graphical Applications

For applications that require a graphical interface, CSE-IT Linux desktops have two supported environments: GNOME, the default for physical workstations and XFCE, the default for the Virtual Online Linux Environment (VOLE).

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Find Software in GNOME

Ubuntu 20.04 and below: Available applications can be seen by clicking on the "Show Applications" icon (the 3 by 3 grid of squares) on the bottom of the Dock on the left hand side.

Ubuntu 22.04: Available applications can be seen by clicking Activities in the upper right hand corner, and then clicking on the "Show Applications" icon (the 3 by 3 grid of squares) on the bottom of the Dock on the right hand side.

This will load a list of all available graphical applications in a browseable list

Find Software in XFCE

In XFCE the available software packages are categorized under the "Applications" menu on the top left corner.

Terminal Applications

Terminal or CLI applications are available via a terminal emulation program or accessible remotely via SSH. From the terminal you can use dpkg or rpm to list all installed applications (including graphical applications) or use tab completion to get individual commands.

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Find Software in Ubuntu

To list almost all installed application packages, in a terminal use


To list the commands in an application package use


Example

Find packages related to TeX:

"ii" indicates a package is installed.

List all binary files in the latex2html package:

Find Software in CentOS

To list almost all installed application packages, in a terminal use


To list the commands in an application package use


Example

Find packages related to TeX:


List all binary files in the latex2html package:

Alternative Method: Tab Completion

Tab completion will allow you to list the executables available from any installed software packages.

Start with one or more letters and hit <tab> twice to see candidate applications that start with that letter. If there are more than approximately 100 candidates you will be asked if you want to proceed.

Example

Legacy Method: Modules

Some legacy software is available via the modules system.

To see what modules are available:


To use a software module:


To stop using a software module and return to using the locally installed version:


Example

Updates and Upgrades

A software update is when the software is patched for security or other issues. The software version and how the software operates should not significantly change.

A software upgrade is when there are major changes to the software that may or may not impact how the software operates.

Operating System Provided Software

CSE-IT updates all system software provided by the operating system vendors (Canonical for Ubuntu, RedHat for CentOS) on a weekly basis. System software will only be upgraded when it is part of a Long Term Support upgrade. Some software may be integral to the Operating System and cannot be replaced or upgraded, while others may have different versions working concurrently. Rest assured that as a Long Term Support release Canonical and the Ubuntu community are committed to ensuring that any security-related bugs are patched in a timely manner.

Other Software

Software not included with the operating system may only be updated or upgraded on request and may be retired with no notice if it is no longer supported or no longer works with the current Long Term Support release of the Operating System. Upgrades will generally occur between semesters.

Requesting Software

CSE-IT will evaluate requests for additional software packages on a case-by-case basis. Faculty and TAs may request software as necessary for the upcoming semester and CSE-IT will evaluate the software and if possible install it everywhere. If the software is not provided by the operating system vendor and does not have many users we may recommend the requestor install the software themselves to their project space.

When requesting software, please include the following information when contacting the CSE-IT Service Desk:

  • The name of the software
  • For which operating system(s) the software is needed
  • Any specific version requirements
  • Any additional information that would be useful


Criteria CSE-IT may use to evaluate if a particular software can be supported:

  • Is the software package available from the operating system vendor (e.g Ubuntu)?
  • Does the software vendor offer an appropriate package or a repository?
  • Does the software work in our environment?
  • Could the software be packaged by CSE-IT systems staff?
  • Do we already have software that offers the same functionality?
  • Does the software have usage restrictions?
  • Does the software have a license fee? How will this fee be paid?
  • How many people will be using the software?
  • Can the software be installed, by the user, into a project space?