Getting Connected to CSS

Many of the CSS computer services are available through a remote (outside of the Seamans Center) connection. In order to connect to CSS, you must first have a connection to the Internet, usually using an Internet Service Provider (ISP). UI student, faculty, and staff can use the University of Iowa Remote Access service. For information about getting and setting up this service, visit the ITS remote access web pages.

Connecting through the Internet

Using ITS Remote Access

Using the ITS information for remote access, set up your Internet connection. Once you connect as described, you can run a browser (e.g., Firefox or IE) to view web pages.

Using an ISP

Set up your Internet connection following the ITS instructions or the instructions given by your ISP. Connect to your ISP in the normal manner.

Account Access

Once you are connected by either method, you can use an application like SSH to connect to the Engineering Computer Network (ECN), or use a secure FTP application like WS-FTP or FileZilla to transfer files.

SSH

Start a SSH application such as SecureCRT. This client allows you to securely connect to the Engineering network over the Internet. SecureCRT is a Windows terminal emulation program that will open a shell on a Linux workstation. A SecureCRT connection to a Linux workstation allows you to use the command line but not the graphical interface or programs that use the Linux graphical interface. Download SecureCRT from the ITS site.
Use login.engineering.uiowa.edu for the destination host name. As of May 08, you must use this destination host name to connect to a Linux workstation if coming from off campus.
Login with your account login ID and password. Once connected you can SSH to other campus computing resources as necessary.

FTP

Start a secure FTP application like WS_FTP or FileZilla.
Use ftp.engineering.uiowa.edu for the destination host
Be sure to specify an initial directory of ~loginID if the program requires it. You can now transfer files between your home computer and your Engineering account.

updated: 1 May 2008