Your Workstation Environment

Once your workstation is installed and running, it will display one of two ways to log in.

Workstations running HP VUE. If your workstation is running HP VUE, you will see the HP VUE login screen:

Workstations not running HP VUE. If HP VUE is not running, you will see the system console login prompt:

Choosing an environment

We recommend that you use HP VUE on your workstation whenever possible. The powerful features of HP VUE make it easier to learn to use your workstation and extend its functionality. HP VUE is also very flexible.

Choosing HP VUE. You will want to use HP VUE if you:

Want an easy-to-use interface. You'll still be able to type commands if you choose to do work that way.
Want to run more than one application at a time. You can run applications that create their own windows and applications that must be run in a terminal.
Want to run the applications that are part of HP VUE. For example, HP VUE's Text Editor application provides an easy way to edit files. Its Help Manager lets you access extensive online information.

Choosing a console. You will want to use a single system console if you:

Want to run a single application that uses the entire display, such as Starbase Graphics or a CAD application.
Want to use the X11 Window System without HP VUE.

If HP VUE does not start automatically. Under certain conditions, such as after a system update, or after a new workstation is added to a diskless cluster, HP VUE may not be configured to run automatically, and you will see a system console when you boot your system. If HP VUE is not running and you want to turn it on, read Chapter 11 “Enabling and Disabling HP VUE” for instructions.

Turning HP VUE off. If you need to totally disable HP VUE, see “Stopping HP VUE” for instructions.

Introducing HP VUE

HP VUE is a powerful graphical environment and a set of applications for interacting with your computer.

Features of HP VUE. HP VUE includes these features:

Windows and workspaces. Windows are containers on the screen for applications; they let you run more than one application at a time. Workspaces provide a way to make a single display seem like several displays. Each workspace occupies the entire display, and you switch from one workspace to another using a control. It's as though your display had several layers that you can shuffle.
Icon-based file management. Files are represented by icons that can be selected and moved on the display.
Front Panel and toolboxes for easy access to applications.
Extensive online help.
Session management. HP VUE remembers which applications were running when you logged out and restarts them the next time you log in.
Easy customization for colors, fonts, window behavior, and other aspects of the appearance and behavior of your workstation.
Easy-to-use Text Editor and Icon Editor.
Multi-media application for annotating files.

There are two forms of HP VUE. Regular HP VUE sessions provide all the functionality of HP VUE.

Some models and configurations of HP workstations may not give satisfactory performance when running HP VUE. If you wish to exchange some HP VUE features for enhanced performance, you can use HP VUE Lite by selecting it from the Options menu on the HP VUE login screen.

HP VUE Lite is a subset of HP VUE. It features enhanced system performance by omitting full icon-based file management, full session management, and file annotation.

Entering commands. While HP VUE provides an easy way to work with files and applications using icons, you will encounter tasks that require you to enter commands manually using a command line. Command lines are provided by HP VUE's Terminal Emulator application. See Chapter 8 “Using Terminal Emulators ” to learn how to use a Terminal Emulator. For information about commands, see the Using HP-UX manual or the "HP-UX 10.0 Operating System Help" in the online HP Help.

There are additional login options. You can use the Options menu on the HP VUE login screen to suspend HP VUE in order to run a special program or to perform certain configuration tasks. The Options menu also accesses sessions in other languages.

Learning about HP VUE. This manual covers how to use and configure HP VUE.

You can also use HP Help to access online help about HP VUE. To learn more about HP Help, see Chapter 4 “Getting Help” in this manual.

Introducing the console environment

The console provides a command-line interface for running special applications and performing certain system administration functions.

Learning About System Commands. The Using HP-UX manual explains basic HP-UX commands that you can use in the System Console.

If you use the console to run the X11 Windows System, you can also use HP Help to get information online. The "HP-UX 10.0 Operating System Help" contains extensive information about HP-UX commands.

Your Workstation Environment

Technical documentation

» Table of Contents

» Glossary

» Index

Choosing an environment

Introducing HP VUE

Introducing the console environment