Summary

SSH (Secure SHell) is a program to let you login securely to another computer on the Internet in order to use typed commands. It encrypts your username, password, and your session commands and output. For some applications this is much faster and simpler than using a Web interface. You must have a valid, authorised username and password for the remote machine.

Telnet is an earlier, insecure form of a similar service. SSH is now used instead of Telnet because Telnet transmits all data unencrypted, which is a security risk.

Most computers that you can log into this way use the Unix operating system or one of its derivatives (Linux and recent Apple Mac systems are all Unix-based). You will need to know what commands to type if you want to use such systems. There is a brief summary of some of the common commands in unixtips.

NaN (rev 1)

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Whole document

  1. Names and addresses
  2. SSH
  3. Using the command terminal
    1.  Typing commands
    2.  Logging out
  4. Telnet
Table of Contents
ToC

ToC3. Using the command terminal

Commands may differ according to what kind of machine you are logged into. There is a summary of some common Unix commands in unixtips.

Up to start of section3.1. Typing commands

The very first time you access a machine, your SSH program will ask you to confirm that you really do mean that machine. Assuming you got the address right, answer yes

The remote system will then ask you to login, and may then display a welcome message and any security announcements of its own. When the system displays a $ sign, it's ready for you to type a command.

Terminal Commands
_=X
The authenticity of host 'www.ucc.ie (143.239.1.112)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is fc:10:cc:1e:54:53:f3:03:46:58:6c:0f:32:e3:5f:79.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added 'www.ucc.ie' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.

login as: ontology
ontology@www.ucc.ie's password:        

This is www.ucc.ie (nina), the main UCC web server.
Access to this system is for registered website owners ONLY.
Continued use implies acceptance of the Acceptable Use Policy
(see http://www.ucc.ie/aup/). Unauthorised use is prohibited.
$

Don't forget you must press the Enter key after every command you type: until you do so, the system doesn't know you've typed anything!

To know what commands to type, refer back to the documentation that told you to use SSH. Some elementary Unix commands are listed in unixtips.

One of the most common reasons for web site owners to log in is to change password.

Up to start of section3.2. Logging out

You must log out when you have finished, otherwise the next user will be able to use your account. Type  exit  at the $ sign when you have finished. If you fail to do this, you are leaving your account open to the next person to use your computer.

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, Electronic Publishing Unit • 2009-04-22 • (other)