SSH -Introduction
SSH is a program that runs on your personal computer (e.g. Windows/Intel, Macintosh, or UNIX workstation) and is used to login to a remote computer system, much in the same way that telnet has been used in the past for the same purpose. The big difference between telnet and SSH, however, is that SSH provides significantly enhanced security for your login session.
In the unofficial Library Jargon, Telnet is synonymous with the Pine software. Pine is e-mail client software in the same way that Eudora™ or Mulberry™. Unlike Eudora which *resides* on your personal computer Pine is usually installed on the remote UNIX server. Telnet which is a Terminal Emulation program for TCP/IP networks allows a computer to connect to a server remotely. [At UIC usually TIGGER] SSH is the now the de facto standard for remote computer logins, with an estimated three million users in 80 countries. It solves the most important security problem on the Internet: crackers stealing passwords. Typical applications of SSH include remote access to computer resources over the Internet, secure file transfers, and remote system administration.
SSH provides an encrypted communications path between two untrusted hosts over a potentially insecure network and thus prevents user's passwords and other sensitive data from being transmitted across the network in clear-text form. SSH is available on virtually all computer platforms: Macintosh, Microsoft Windows95 and NT, Unix, Linux, etc.
SSH on WinTel
If you use a PC running Windows there is a *free* version from UICs FTP repository. Download the SSHWinSecureShellClient-3.2.0.exe and install. As usual if you are uncomfortable do send a message to lib-sys to install this for you.
This installation will include a Secure File Transfer Client which is also preferable to the WS-FTP client.
SSH on OSX
If you use a Macintosh running OS X, then things are really easy as the standard OS X "ssh" application implements the SSH protocol. This is a command-line only application that is most easily invoked from the standard OS X "Terminal" application. In the Finder, go to Applications->Utilities->Terminal, then in a terminal window just type "ssh HOSTNAME," with the word HOSTNAME substituted by the name of the computer system you want to access, e.g. tigger.cc.uic.edu For your PINE session on TIGGER
#ssh -l username tigger [if you are on UIC networks]
#ssh -l username tigger.cc.uic.edu [If you are on non-UIC networks]
The authenticity of host 'tigger.cc.uic.edu (XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX)' can't be established.
DSA key fingerprint is xx:9c:ae:a9:nn:45:21:e6:9b:96:f1:70:1d:42:ed:6d.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? |
Answer yes to add tigger on your host list. The type the word "pine" to start using the Pine software.
