• Office of the Provost
• BRANDEIS HOME

Secure Shell (SSH)

If you woud like to use a GUI (graphical user interface), please look at our SFTP page.

Window SSH Client

Windows users can download PuTTY.exe for Windows here.

Logging in

In order to log in, you will need your UNet username and password.  If you don't already have an account, you can create one at https://identity.brandeis.edu.

For Host Name, enter either:

• starfish.unet.brandeis.edu
• conch.unet.brandeis.edu

Everyone has a choice of three servers to use. If one server happens to be down, you can always try another.  

For Username, enter your Brandeis UNet username.  This is the same as your e-mail address without the "@brandeis.edu"

Keep the default port number (22), and choose "Password" for the authentication method.  Click connect.

Another box will prompt you for your password. Enter it, then click OK. 

Mac/Linux SSH Client

Mac and Linux users can simply type "ssh username@servername" from the Terminal (under Applications->Utilities->Terminal for Macs). For example, if your username was joeschmo, enter "ssh joeschmo@conch.unet.brandeis.edu". 

The first time you run SSH, you will get a message describing the host key sent by the server.  Simply accept the key. If you ever get a warning that the host key has changed, contact LTS immediately. 

Available Systems

Currently there are three systems.  All machines provide access to the same files and run the same software.  Individual servers may be down for maintenance from time to time; if so, pick another.

starfish.unet.brandeis.edu (Linux, 1.5GB RAM)

conch.unet.brandeis.edu (Linux, 512MB RAM)

The shell servers are designed for mail, news, and education.  Long-running processes will be killed. Network daemons such as IRC bots are not allowed.  Please be considerate to the other users of the system.