Problem:

I want to make a Secure Shell connection to NC state from off campus.
How do I do so?


Solution:

In order to access a Unix or Linux command line, you'll need to do so via the
Virtual Computing Lab.  The instructions below will guide you through the
process of getting a reservation and getting connected.

1. Access the Virtual Computing Lab (http://vcl.ncsu.edu)

2. Select "Make a Reservation"

3. If you have not already authenticated via WRAP, you'll be prompted to do so
at this time.

4. Under New Reservation, select "Solaris Lab Machine (Realm Solaris
5.8)"

5. Select the time at which you want to use the environment and the duration
for which you want to keep the reservation.

6. Select "Create Reservation"

7. The Current Reservations screen will show all pending reservations for your
account. When your reservation is ready, a "Connect!" button will
appear on the page. Click this button.

8. You'll now be given an IP address for the remote machine.  This is the
address to which you'll connect with an SSH program.

For SSH using Windows:
1. Download Putty from http://www.eos.ncsu.edu/remoteaccess/putty.html
(If you are using a Windows Lab machine on campus, Putty can be found in the
Application Launcher)

2. When the download is complete, run the program.

3. Enter the reservation IP address under Host Name (or IP Address)

4. Click Open

5. Putty will likely give a security alert, this is standard, but you can trust
this machine so click Yes

6. For login as:, enter your Unity ID and press enter

7. For the password, enter your Unity Password and press enter

8. You now have an eos% or unity% prompt and can use it to run commands

For SSH using Mac OSX:
1. Run the Terminal program from Applications -> Utilities

2. type in "ssh userid@IPADDRESS" where userid is your Unity ID and
IPADDRESS is the reservation IP Address, and press enter

3. If asked if you are sure that you want to continue, type "yes" and
press enter.

4. Enter your Unity Password and press enter

5. You now have an eos% or unity% prompt and can use it to enter commands.

NOTE: Because the Virtual Computing Lab's image for Linux Lab Machines can
allow connections to acutal physical machines located in labs, your actual
prompt may vary.  For example, instead of eos% or unity%, you may see something
like Dan255-215-L%.  This is normal and will function the same.

Should you, however, just have ">" as a prompt, then that could be
a potential problem and you need to refer to the following solution:

http://help.ncsu.edu/services/get-soln.pl?id=546

If you experience problems or have any other questiosn, please contact the NC
State Help Desk at 515-HELP or by email at help@ncsu.edu.