Accessing shell servers over SSH

From ULYSSIS documentation
Revision as of 11:58, 10 May 2014 by Warreee (talk | contribs) (Created page with "<p>Users can access the ULYSSIS servers through two machines: <code>ssh1.ulyssis.org</code> and <code>ssh2.ulyssis.org</code>. Both of them run Linux. You can run commands on ...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

Users can access the ULYSSIS servers through two machines: ssh1.ulyssis.org and ssh2.ulyssis.org. Both of them run Linux. You can run commands on these servers or use them to access the files on your ULYSSIS account. The servers can only be accessed trough SSH, not through FTP or any other protocol.

Running commands

To run a command on the shell servers, you will need to connect to them using a terminal. Our servers do not support a full graphical interface.

Linux

On Linux, you can just open a terminal and connect to the servers by using one of the following commands (with username your username):

ssh username@ssh1.ulyssis.org

ssh username@ssh2.ulyssis.org

Enter your password and you're connected.

By doing this, the terminal will now act as a terminal on the remote server. To disconnect, type logout, exit or use Ctrl+D.

Windows

Windows doesn't support native terminals, so you will have to download a program first. A good option is Putty, which is completely free and doesn't require any installation. Just download it and run the .exe file. The parameters:

  • Host name: ssh1.ulyssis.org or ssh2.ulyssis.org
  • Protocol: SSH
  • Port: 22 (should be set automatically)

You can save these options for later on.

Next, you will be asked to give your password.

Doing all this will open a terminal to the remote server which can be used the same way as a Linux terminal. To disconnect, type logout, exit or use Ctrl+D.

More information about Putty can be found at http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/0.60/htmldoc/.

Mac

On Mac, you can just open Terminal. This application can be found in the Utilities folder within your Application folder. If you don't find it there, you can use Spotlight to find it.

You can now connect to the servers by using one of the following commands (with username your username):

ssh username@ssh1.ulyssis.org

ssh username@ssh2.ulyssis.org

Enter your password and you're connected.

By doing this, the terminal will now act as a terminal on the remote server. To disconnect, type logout, exit or use ctrl+D.

Useful ideas

Here are some useful ideas about what you could do with your shell server access:

  • <a href="/docs/fetch-your-kuleuven-mail-in-gmail">Fetch your K.U.Leuven student mail in your Gmail account.</a>
  • Run an IRC client in a screen so you don't miss a thing.

Useful commands

Some useful commands can be found <a href="http://ulyssis.be/docs/useful-linux-commands">here</a>.

Accessing your files

Next to running commands, you can also use the shell servers to access your files. There are several methods to do this, some graphical, some not. The former definitely are the easiest option to go for.

On the server, your files are located in /home/group/username/. For a normal user with username username/ this will be /home/user/username/, for an organisation with username organisation/ this will be /home/org/organisation/ etc.

Graphical methods

Linux

Linux normally gives you the option to connect to a server graphically. On Ubuntu, in the "Places" menu, choose "Connect to server." using the following options:

  • Service type: SSH
  • Server: ssh1.ulyssis.org or ssh2.ulyssis.org
  • Port: you can leave this blank
  • Folder: your home folder as described above (this is optional, this will save you clicking to your home folder)

This will open up a file browser connected to the remote server. Here, you can create new files, delete files, upload files (by copying or dragging them in the file browser), download files (by copying or dragging them from the file browser), change file rights etc.

Windows

Windows doesn't support native remote file browsers, so you will have to download a program first. A good option is FileZilla, which is completely free. Download it, install it and run it. The parameters:

  • Dropdown menu: SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
  • Server: ssh1.ulyssis.org or ssh2.ulyssis.org
  • Port: you can leave the default value
  • Username: your username
  • Password: your password

Mac

Download the free and open source program Cyberduck

Follow the installations instructions and afterwards open Cyberduck in your Applications folder. Click on 'Open Connection' in the left top corner.

  • Dropdown menu: SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)
  • Server: ssh1.ulyssis.org or ssh2.ulyssis.org
  • Port: you can leave the default value
  • Username: your username
  • Password: your password

Click on 'Connect' and you're done. By dragging and dropping you can manipulate files from and to your Mac.

Non-graphical methods

You can also use a terminal (on Linux) or Putty (on Windows) to access your files. Connect to the server as described above, and use commands as cd, ls, mkdir, rm, nano or chmod to manage your files. You can also use scp (secure copy) to copy files from and to the servers (don't use ssh first). For example, to copy a file called file.txt to your home dir on the server, use (with username your username and /home/user/username your home dir as described above):

scp file.txt username@ssh1.ulyssis.org:/home/user/username

For other examples and more info, see http://www.hypexr.org/linux_scp_help.php.

Retrieved from "https://docs.ulyssis.org/index.php?title=Accessing_shell_servers_over_SSH&oldid=23"