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Table of Contents


Prerequisites

This guide assumes that you are comfortable with Windows, but have no experience with accessing Linux systems from Windows. If you are already familiar with this process, feel free to skip ahead. You can find a list of machines here.

If you are a little rusty with Windows, please consider first reading a book or two to get you started.

We recommend:

Last but not least, make sure that you have gone over the CSCS Conditions of Usage and the Lab Info. You will be held to these standards, so please be aware of them.


Intro: SSH Client Installation

If you've already installed the UM Blue Disc available from LSA IT, you can skip here.

Otherwise, you have two options:

  • You can obtain the Blue Disc from the link above if you have a UM account, either as a free download or by purchasing a physical copy. Select the Windows operating system in the upper right hand menu and on the following page, download the SSH Secure Shell application from the Individual Components section. Run the setup application and restart your computer as directed. Once this has been completed, you can continue here.
  • You can install a SSH remote shell client of your choice, such as Putty. To install Putty, download the Putty program and save it to an easily accessible location. Just double-click to run it. When you're done, you can continue here.

Using the Blue Disc

In order to connect to the CSCS network, you must first pick a target computer. A list of the lab computers can be found here. Once you've picked your machine, keep the name handy, as we'll be using it again soon.

To access your CSCS account, go to the Start Menu Program List, select UM Internet Access Kit, SSH Secure Shell, and then SSH Secure Shell client.

Quick Connect

You should now see the SSH client application. Select Quick Connect from the upper left menu bar.

Enter target computer and username

Now, enter in your target computer and username. Replace the underlined portion of the Hostname field with the computer name you picked from the prior list.

Accept host key

Select yes to accept the host key from your target machine. You will only have to do this once for each target machine.

Login message

Now you should see the login message and your shell. Congratulations, you're logged in!

Now it's time to change your password. Please, do not skip this step!


Using Putty

In order to connect to the CSCS network, you must first pick a target computer. A list of the lab computers can be found here. Once you've picked your machine, keep the name handy, as we'll be using it again soon.

Run Putty (from the location you saved it to if you are using your own computer, or from its location on Campus Computing site computers if that is how where you are using putty.) A window like this will be displayed (without the posare.cscs.lsa.umich.edu in the hostname field):

Putty Configuration

First, make sure that you have enabled X11 forwarding to your machine. Select SSH->X11 in the lefthand menu and make sure that your configuration matches the image below.

Putty X11 Configuration

Note that the display location must be exactly "localhost:0".

Now, return to the Session item in the lefthand menu and enter in your target computer. Replace the underlined portion of the Hostname field with the computer name you picked from the prior list.

Next this window will appear:

Putty Security

Select yes to accept the host key from your target machine. You will only have to do this once for each target machine.

Next you will be prompted for your CSCS username. Enter your username as prompted (i.e., replace mjbommar with your username in the example below), followed by your password you received in the email about your new CSCS account.

Putty Login

Now you should see the login message and your shell:

Putty Login

Congratulations, you're logged in!


Setting up an X Server

  • If you want to run applications on the remote (cscs) machines that have a GUI (e.g., a browser, repast models, netlogo, emacs), you need to have something called an X server installed to allow you to do this. It is explained more in detail on the following page: Hummingbird/Xming

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