SSH to CASLab Linux Using the Built-in Terminal (Windows, Mac, Linux)

The latest versions of Windows, Mac, and Linux all have SSH capabilities built into their terminals (or, in the case of Windows Command Prompt and PowerShell).

  • In Windows, go to the Start menu and search for PowerShell (or Command Prompt – both work.
  • On a Mac, go to Launchpad (or do a Spotlight search with Cmd+Space) and search for terminal.
  • On Linux, it depends on which distribution, but there should be a similar application launcher you can search for “terminal” in.

Once in a terminal window, type the following:

ssh <netid>@<server>

where <netid> is your username and <server> is the name of the machine or host you are trying to connect to. For example, if my netid was 5dm5 and I wanted to connect to linux.caslab.queensu.ca, I would type: ssh 5dm5@linux.caslab.queensu.ca.

If it’s your first time connecting to this host from your current device, you will be prompted to accept an encryption key. Simply type “yes” and press enter.

You will then be asked for your password. Type it in and note that nothing will appear to make it look like you have typed anything. This is normal. If you make a mistake, press backspace a bunch of times and try again.

The whole process is illustrated in the following animation (using Windows PowerShell, but it is the same on all platforms):

And that’s it. If you have any problems, please consult the FAQ or submit a problem report.