Connect to Your Lab Instance

Once you are connected to Wi-Fi, you need to turn your attention to connecting your PC to the IPython Notebook and the Minecraft world in your lab instance. The diagram below illustrates what sits where:

../_images/programming-environment.png

The architecture guide explains a bit more about the peices in this diagram.

Lab Instance Connection Card

Your lab instance connection card has all the critical information, so make sure you have it in hand, and make sure the Mentor who took your account name has had time to set up your instance on the lab server. If so, you’re ready to proceed.

The connection card looks something like the following:

../_images/lab-instance-connection-card.png

Key information found on this card:

  • Your Instance Number. In the upper right corner of the card is your Lab Instance Number. If you need to ask a mentor to restart your instance, they will need to know your instance number.

    Note

    Too much TNT? A pyramid made out of beds or water? A restart can get you going again quickly.

  • The IPython URL. It looks something like https://python.coderdojotc.org:12356/. Many people miss the S in the https part of the URL. Many other people miss the numbers that follow the domain name. Both of these are critical to connect to your instance.

  • The IPython password. When you first connect, you will be asked for a password to make sure only you can access the IPython notebook server in your instance.

  • Your Minecraft/Mojang account name. This is printed on the line that reads “Step 3: Connect to the Minecraft Server as coderdojo##” This is the account you should use to log into the Minecraft world. Only this account will be able to make changes in your world.

  • Your Minecraft server address. This looks very similar to the IPython URL, but it just contains the server name (python.coderdojotc.org) and a port number (the digits following the colon).

Connect to the IPython Notebook

The steps involved in connecting to IPython include:

  1. Open your web browser. You need to use Chrome, Firefox, or IE 11 or newer. Safari is known to not work, at least on older Macs.
  2. Visit the URL given on the connection card. The browser will probably complain that it doesn’t trust the site. Proceed past the warnings.
  3. Enter the IPython password when prompted.

You should see a screen like the one below:

../_images/ipython-notebook.png

Connect to the Minecraft Server

The steps involved in connecting to Minecraft include:

  1. Launch Minecraft on your PC. If you haven’t already installed and played Minecraft on your PC, visit the Minecraft download page. Download and install the appropriate version for your operating system.

  2. You will need to log into Minecraft. The account name is printed on the connection card. A mentor will need to log you in. If you are working through these exercises at home, use your personal Minecraft account.

  3. Create a profile and make sure it uses the latest patch in the 1.8 release series. For example, you can specify release 1.8.4 of the game. The image below illustrates what a properly configured profile will loook like:

    ../_images/minecraft-profile.png
  4. After saving the profile (if necessary), click Play to launch it.

  5. Choose Multiplayer, then choose Direct Connect.

  6. In the Server Address field, enter the Minecraft Server address from your connection card, including the port number at the end.

  7. Finally, click Join Server. After a brief delay, you should see your Minecraft world.

Once you can talk to the IPython notebook server and the Minecraft server, you need to make sure they can talk to each other. Continue on to test your environment.