Logging on to CSE remotely

CSE runs a number of login servers that can be used to run many of the programs that are installed locally on CSE managed systems. Use these servers if you want to work from home or while you are away.

To access these servers, you will need an SSH client. If you want to run programs with a graphical user interface you need to run an X-Server on your local computer.

SSH is a very useful tool for creating secure connections between computers. Normally you would connect to one of our main login servers which have the hostname login.cse.unsw.edu.au. You may be permitted to log into other CSE login servers such as grieg.cse.unsw.edu.au.

Linux

Simple Text Programs

You may just want to check your CSE home directory, compile a program, remove a few files, run priv commands or a text mode mail client such as mutt or pine. You can do these things with a text mode SSH connection. Run: ssh computername

If logging in as a different user, use ssh username@computername

X-Windows Programs over SSH

If you are running a graphical user interface such as gnome, kde or similar, you have everything you need.

From a terminal window, type : ssh -Y your_cse_username@login.cse.unsw.edu.au

(replace your_cse_username with your actual username )

After entering your password, you will now be logged on to one of the login servers. You may now run commands like ical, priv commands, acc commands and many others.

Windows

To connect to CSE servers with Windows you will need to install and configure an SSH client and an X-server. We would recommend that if you don't already have these installed that you choose PuTTY and XMing. An alternative to XMing would be cygwin, but this is an extensive application with features that you are unlikely to need and is non-trivial to install.

What is PuTTY

PuTTY is a Windows SSH client which gives you a terminal window like you use in the CSE laboratories. PuTTY can be found on the CSE homecomputing CD which can be borrowed from the CSE Help Desk OR can be downloaded from: http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~homecomputing/

What is Xming?

Xming is a standalone open source X Server for Windows. Programs that use a graphical user interface require an X server on your home computer. Xming can be found on the CSE mirror at http://mirror.cse.unsw.edu.au/pub/xming/ You should download the setup program and optionally the fonts package.

If you just want to run text mode programs you won't need to install an X-Server such as X-Ming. Putty will be enough.

Installing PuTTY and XMing

Run the setup programs for PuTTY and Xming. We suggest that you choose the default options for the installation, and choose the options to create icons for PuTTY and Xming on the desktop. Xming must be running before you run PuTTY. When it is running, you will see an X icon in the system tray (the bottom right hand side of your Windows screen). If you forget, you can always run it after running PuTTY, even if you are logged on to the CSE login server.

Configuring PuTTY and XMing

When you run PuTTY for the first time, you will see a window like the one below.

In the box below Host Name (or IP Address) enter login.cse.unsw.edu.au. If the lecturer for your subject has suggested you use a specific server, enter it instead. For more information about CSE servers and their uses see: www.cse.unsw.edu.au/help/computing/facilities/computers/index.html
Make sure SSH is selected.
Enter login.cse.unsw.edu.au in the box below Saved Sessions.
Click the [-] to expand SSH from the window on the left (if necessary) and click X11. You should see this screen. Ensure that the checkbox for Enable X11 forwarding is selected.
After you have clicked the check box, scroll the left hand window back to the top and click on the Session heading. You should see the same screen as in Step 1
Click the Save button. The host name you entered should now appear below Default Settings. In the future, you will be able to connect by simply double-clicking this host name.
Click the Open button.
If you see a window like this: click the Yes button.
When you see: login as: enter your CSE username.
When you see: username@servername.cse.unsw.edu.au’s password: enter your CSE password. This should remotely log you into your CSE account.

Mac OS X Tiger

OS X Tiger has everything you need to connect remotely.

The first thing to do is to install X11. See this page for good instructions.

http://overstimulate.com/articles/2005/11/04/installing-x11-on-os-x-10-4-tiger.html

After you have installed X11, you will have an icon in the Applications/Utilities Folder. If you launch this, you should get a terminal window. If you don't see one, select it from the X11 menu at the top of the screen.

To connect to the CSE login servers, run : ssh -Y your_cse_username@login.cse.unsw.edu.au

(replace your_cse_username with your actual username)

Enter your password and you can now access (almost) the same environment as a CSE lab computer.

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