Using SSH to Access Unix


Traditional methods of connecting to ECF (or anywhere) over a network, such as telnet and rlogin, are not terribly secure.  All data are sent as "cleartext" (i.e., unencrypted), which means that anyone who has access to the data stream can "sniff" the data packets.  Even though your password is not echoed as you type it,  the cleartext characters are still being sent over the network to the host.

SSH provides a secure alternative to telnet and rlogin for connecting to ECF machines.

Most Linux (or FreeBSD or OpenBSD etc.) distributions include SSH client and server software; alternatively, users can get SSH clients and servers from www.openssh.com.  Both source and binary distributions are available.

Windows users have several alternatives, but one of the easiest to use and set up is PuTTY, which can be found at http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty.  

The first time you run PuTTY you will be asked to enter a hostname or IP address in order to connect to ECF.
Please enter "remote.ecf.utoronto.ca" in this field. See graphic below:





Web search engines will turn up many more references to SSH.