Secure Connections to Linux, Windows

Using SSH To Connect Remotely

To connect from Linux to Linux, use SSH. To connect from a Windows computer to a Linux workstation, use SSH if you need only a command line. If you need the graphical interface, run an X session using NX Client (NOMACHINE).

SSH is a program that allows one computer to log into another over a network. If you are using a computer on the Engineering Computer Network (ECN) to get to another computer on the ECN, all the software you need is available on the Linux workstation or Windows computer you are using. If you want to connect to a remote Linux or Windows computer, connect to the ITS download site to get SecureCRT. Here are instructions for installing and using SecureCRT.

Using SSH from Linux

Use the following command from a Linux shell or command line: ssh machinename. Substitute the actual machine name, e.g., L-LNX000, for machinename. This command starts an encrypted and secure connection to the machine you have chosen, and you will not be prompted for your password.

Using SSH from Windows

To connect using Windows, you need an SSH client such as SecureCRT. This program is already installed on all the Windows machines that CSS administers. To connect using SecureCRT from Vista, choose Start | All Programs | SecureCRT 6.2 or search for "SecureCRT" in the search box. From Windows XP, choose Start | All Programs | Utilities | SecureCRT 5.0. This opens a connection dialogue box. For host name, use login (or login.engineering.uiowa.edu) for Linux workstations or the specific machine name you want. The Username is your login ID. Click Connect. You are prompted to save a key; choose whichever option you wish. Then you are prompted for your password. Once connected, your SSH sessions looks like a telnet session.

For more help on Secure CRT or how to download it, read our SecureCRT documentation.

X Session to Linux

The NX Client for Windows is software that gives you a graphical connection to a Linux workstation in the Engineering Computing Network. Use the NX client when you need to run programs such as Mathematica, Matlab, and Pro/Engineer that require the graphics capabilities of a Linux workstation.

From Windows Vista, to go Start | All Programs | NX Client for Windows or type "nx" in the search window. From Windows XP, go to Start | All Programs | Utilities | Engineering Linux Machines to start the program. Read the NX Client (NOMACHINE) page for more information.

You can download and install the NX client without being an administrator. To download it, go to the NOMACHINE download site.

updated: 7 July 2009