To log into most EECIS systems, you’ll need to use an SSH client on your local system to gain terminal access.

SSH implementations

• The supported version of SSH for all versions of Unix, including Linux and MacOS, is OpenSSH

  • MAC users can use SSH built into MacOS, by opening «Applications → Utilities → Terminal and running»

    ssh $USER@someserver.someplace.edu
    

    in the terminal window.

  • As of MacOS 10.8, the X11 software which allows you to tunnel graphics from Unix/Linux servers to the Mac desktop is no longer included by default. You can go to the XQuartz site to download the X11 server for your MacOS 10.8+ (This is the same X11 software that Apple previously included with MacOS)

• For Windows PC users, there are a few choices. Note that UD no longer recommends the commercial SSH client which had been posted on UDeploy.

  1. PuTTY is the UD-recommended SSH software. It is both free of charge and Open Source.
  2. MobaXterm is a convenient all-in-one package for SSH and X-windows in one (for using GUI software on remote systems). The «personal version» is free of charge, but not Open Source or Free software. It can either be «installed» or run as a stand-alone utility.
  3. Cygwin is a project to package Free and Open Source «Unix/Linux» software for Windows. It includes the OpenSSH client and an X-Windows server you can use for remote display.

SSH Authentication

There are a few ways you can authenticate yourself with an ssh server. The most common used here are

• Password - literally just type in your user’s password each time you connect to a server
• Keypair - an exchange of public keys takes place automatically and securely authenticates your system to your user. This method makes passwords for ssh logins optional.

The password method is easy enough and works well for simple things. More complex and secure interactions between a client and our servers will require a keypair.

How to generate a public and private key pair for ssh authentication

Most unix systems come with a pretty useful utility for ssh-keypair generation. Here’s how to use it. At a terminal type

ssh-keygen

and fill out the prompts(the password field is optional, leave it blank for password-less logins) Now you should have two new files located in the ~/.ssh/ folder, id_rsa(your private key), and id_rsa.pub(your public key). The private key should be kept private, don’t share it with anyone. The public key is what you will give to your server administrator to securely authenticate your user and system with their server. To quickly see(and copy) the contents of your public key, use the following command.

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub

Graphical remote access to Unix/Solaris machines

In order to open graphical user interfaces in your desktop from servers such as hoek or mlb, you have to use an X Server (This is an application that allows you to display remote programs on your desktop computer). Such programs include Exceed or the X-server of cygwin (Cygwin is a free unix emulator for Windows based computers).

Starting the CYGWIN X-Server

The X11 package is not a default install of cygwin, therefore, if you installed the default application, you’ll need to run the setup again and install the application. Once the package is installed, the installer places a script that starts the X-Server for you and displays a graphical terminal on your screen. That script startxwin.bat is normally located at:

$CYGWIN_HOME_DIRECTORY\usr\X11R6\bin

You can copy it or create a shortcut to it on your desktop of you don’t want to look for it every time.

Displaying Remote Applications on the X-server of a Windows computer

Please follow UD’s instructions.