Using SSH Secure Shell for Windows
What is SSH?
SSH allows you to log into your Brandeis UNet account through a text-based Unix shell to access your e-mail (using PineDocumentation), manage your personal file storage, use the Unix command line, and perform other handy functions. SSH uses an encrypted connection to the server. This protects your data, and helps to keep the whole network more secure for everyone.
Installing SSH Client for Windows
Windows users can download SSH Secure Shell for Windows from
the LTS software repository. Double-click the installer to launch it, or just run it from your browser. Macs have SSH pre-installed.
Logging in
In order to log in, you'll need your UNet user name and password handy. If don't already have an account, go to
https://unet.brandeis.edu/.
Windows users should go to the Start Menu and click on "Secure File Transfer Client". A new log in window should appear. If it does not, then choose File > Quick Connect.
For Host Name, enter either:
- urchin.unet.brandeis.edu
- conch.unet.brandeis.edu
Everyone has a choice of two servers to use, but both are functionally identical. If one server happens to be down, you can always try the other.
For User Name, enter your Brandeis UNet user name. 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 users can simply type "ssh username@servername" from the Terminal (under Applications > Utilities > Terminal). For example, if your username was joeschmo, you might type "ssh joeschmo@conch.unet.brandeis.edu".
The first time you run SSH, you'll get a message describing the host key sent by the server. You don't need to worry about the details of this - simply accept the key. If you ever get a message warning that the host key has changed, though, you should stop and contact LTS immediately - someone may be trying to steal your credentials!
The main menu
Once you've logged in, you'll be at the main menu. The options available to you are briefly described below. For detailed documentation, follow the links.
- Mail: Send and receive electronic mail with PineDocumentation
- WWW: Browse the World Wide Web with Lynx
- SSH: Make a secure encrypted connection to another computer over the Internet.
- Home Dir: Browse or edit files in your home directory with Pilot
- Disk Usage: Show the amount of disk space you're using
- Brandeis: Search the Brandeis directory
- Who: List any other users who are logged in
- Finger: Finger another user over the Internet to see if they are logged in. Type either the local user name (i.e. stm123) or an Internet address, such as: stm123@Brandeis.edu
- Password: Change your UNet password.
- Exit: Exit out of the menu system into a Unix shell (the default shell is tcsh)
- Q: Log off of the Brandeis UNet System
Secure File Transfer
SSH Secure Shell also supports file transfers, and is more secure than regular FTP.
