Secure Shell Client

SSH is a replacement for Telnet and Rlogin. SSH has major advantages in terms of security. One of the principal advantages is that your password is encrypted when it is transmitted over the network, not sent in clear text. The programs that implement SSH are installed in the Communications folder on the Academic Computing Services (ACS) lab Macintosh and PC workstations.

Before You Start

  • You will need to know username, password, and server name that was issued to you. It is the same username and password you are using to check email with.
  • If you no longer have this information, you can lookup your account information and set a new password using the Account Tools at http://www-acs.ucsd.edu/account-tools/. You would not need to know the old password, but only your username and PAC code (the one you use for registering classes.) If you still have problems, you can also bring your campus ID to ACS/Instructional Computing at AP&M 2113 from Monday - Friday 10:00am - 3:30pm.

Various SSH client programs are available on the Internet. ACS provides recommended SSH client programs that you can download for free and use to log into ACS Unix hosts. All ACS hosts support the newer SSH-2 protocol. Some non-ACS hosts only support the older SSH-1 protocol. If you have a Macintosh and you want to be able to log into both types of hosts you'll need two different SSH programs. Select and download the program appropriate for your computer platform.

If you would like to check email after logging in through SSH, you could use the already integrated program called Pine. Check out our Pine Tutorial.

Which system are you using?
PC
Mac

Windows (PC)

SSH from www.ssh.org is the SSH client program ACS recommends for Windows 98, NT, 2000, and XP.

Download SSH for Windows: SSHSecureShellClient-3.2.2.exe [5.93 MB]

  • Run the SSHSecureShellClient-3.2.2.exe executable to start the installation process, accept the default install options.
  • Start the program, a SSH Secure Shell window opens.
  • Select Quick Connect from the menu bar.
  • In the Connect to Remote Host dialog box enter your server, e.g. sdcc15.ucsd.edu, ieng9.ucsd.edu, iacs5.ucsd.edu
  • Enter your UCSD username.
  • Authentication Method is Password.
    You may receive an advisory notice regarding "The remote host uses SSH1 protocol", accept the connection.
  • When the notice regarding "You are connecting to host ... for the first time." appears, accept and save the key.
  • Enter the password for your login username when requested.
EXIT

To logout and exit out of the SSH program, simply type in "exit" or "logout"

Mac

MacSSH is the Macintosh SSH client program ACS recommends for logging into to ACS hosts. MacSSH is a modified version of BetterTelnet with SSH-2 protocol support.

Download MacSSH to Macintosh: MacSSHPPC.sit.hqx [989KB]

  • Start the MacSSH PPC application inside the MacSSH PPC folder on your desktop.
  • From the pull-down menu select File, Open Connection.
  • In the Open Connection dialog box enter your server, e.g. sdcc15.ucsd.edu, ieng9.ucsd.edu, iacs5.ucsd.edu
  • Select Secure Shell v2.
  • Click Connect.
  • When the notice regarding "The key for this host has never been seen before." appears, accept and save the key.
  • Enter your username and password when requested.

NiftyTelnet is the Macintosh SSH client program that implements the older SSH-1 protocol. You should not need NiftyTelnet to log into Academic Computing Services hosts, but you might need it to log into hosts at other sites if those hosts only support SSH-1 protocol. NiftyTelnet 1.1 SSH implements a subset of the SSH 1.5 protocol.

Download NiftyTelnet for Macintosh: niftytelnet-1.1-ssh-r3.hqx [759KB]

  • Start the niftytelnet-1.1-ssh-r3 application inside the niftytelnet-1.1-ssh-r3.hqx folder on your desktop.
  • In the New Connection dialog box enter your server, e.g. sdcc15.ucsd.edu, ieng9.ucsd.edu, iacs5.ucsd.edu
  • Select Edit.
  • In the Telnet Shortcut dialog box select the appropriate Protocol. [12/14/01 - for sdcc13, sdcc15, sdcc17 select SSH-DES3.]
  • Click OK.
  • In the New Connection dialog box click Connect.
  • When the notice regarding "The public key for this host is unknown." appears, accept and save the key.
  • Enter your username and password when requested.
EXIT

To logout and exit out of the SSH program, simply type in "exit" or "logout"