1. Directions for connecting to the COS cluster and transferring files when using Windows XP/2000/NT.


    Note: To check for updates or to get additional information on Putty see
    http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
    The version number of the files supplied on the COS site is 0.58.
    1. Install the putty (ssh) client for Windows 98/NT/ME/2000/XP.

      1. Right-click on the next link and save the linked file on your desktop.
        putty.exe

      2. On your desktop, double-click on the "Putty" icon.

      3. Configure the "Putty" screen that opens so that it looks like this.

        Putty is now configured for connecting to the COS cluster.

    2. Connecting to the COS cluster

      1. On the desktop, double-click on the Putty icon, and then double-click on access.

      2. If a Putty security alert screen appears, click "Yes".

      3. When the login screen appears enter your account name, press enter and enter your password.

      4. You are now logged on the machine that acts as a gateway through the firewall to the cluster. Your user files (other than web files in public_html) are not mounted on this machine. To access your files ssh to one of the workstations behind the firewall. Use the command
        ssh wkxx.cos.gmu.edu
        where you replace xx by 01, 02, ..., 18.


    3. Transferring files to and from the workstations in the cluster will require that you create a tunnel from your PC to a workstation. The tunnel is required because the workstations are behind a firewall.

      1. On the desktop double-click on the "Putty" icon.

      2. In the "Saved Session" filed click ONCE on "access" and then click "load."

      3. Next, on the left bottom of the Putty screen click on "Tunnels."

      4. In the "Source port" field enter "localhost:1045" (Any number greater than 1024 will work.

      5. In the "Destination" field enter "wkxx.cos.gmu.edu:22", where you replace xx by 01, 02, ..., 18.
        It is important that we don't always use the same value for xx, since will overload workstation xx.

      6. Next click "Add".

      7. When you click "Open" you will be prompted for your COS cluster username and password.

      8. The tunnel is now established. To use it for transferring files launch your ssh client and enter "localhost" as the "Host Name" and "1045" as the port number. (The next step takes you to directions for obtaining and installing a windows based ssh client.

      9. A free Windows based, GUI ssh client is available to GMU community at:
        http://www.irc.gmu.edu/resources/findingaid/ssh/SSH_FTP.pdf


  2. Directions for connecting to the COS cluster and transferring files when using Linux and MAC OS X.

    Linux and Mac OS X come with ssh and sftp support available from the terminal window.

    1. First create the tunnel. On your MAC (or Linux box) enter the command:
      ssh -2 -X -N -f -L 1045:wkxx.cos.gmu.edu:22 youraccountname@access.cos.gmu.edu

      (As above, replace xx by 01, 02, ..., 18 and 1045 by a number greater than 1024.)

      Then respond with your password on the cluster.


    2. To create a terminal connection to the COS cluster type:
      ssh -p 1045 youraccountname@localhost
      If you are using an X11 terminal window type:
      ssh -X -p 1045 youraccountname@localhost


    3. To create a command line file transfer connection between your computer and wkxx, type:
      sftp -oPort=1045 youraccountname@localhost


    4. To use the GUI file transfer client Fugu MAC users can
      1. start Fugu
      2. in the "Connect to" field enter: localhost
      3. in the port field enter 1045
      4. Click "Connect"


Additional information on obtaining ssh.


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