SSH Basic Introduction
Introduction
Secure Shell (SSH) is the primary method for securely accessing Linux and UNIX systems across Rice University, including the CLEAR computing environment. This guide introduces the fundamentals of SSH, explains common SSH tools and terminology, and provides an overview of SSH Gateway services used for secure remote access and file transfers.
Whether you are new to SSH or need a refresher, this guide will help you understand how SSH works and prepare you to connect to Rice systems using standard SSH clients.
What is SSH?
SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure network protocol used to remotely access and manage Linux and UNIX systems over an encrypted connection.
Instead of physically sitting in front of a server, SSH allows you to securely connect from your workstation and interact with the remote system.
Common Uses
- Remote server access and administration
- Secure file transfers using SCP or SFTP
- Running commands remotely
- Secure tunneling and port forwarding
- Automation with scripts and tools such as Ansible
SSH Gateway Access to Rice Servers
The Rice SSH Gateway provides a secure method for connecting to supported Rice campus systems from off campus without directly exposing those systems to the internet.
The SSH Gateway can be used for:
- SSH connections to supported Rice campus servers
- Secure file transfers using SCP or SFTP
Staff or Faculty Access to SSH Gateway
Staff and faculty can connect to ssh-staff.rice.edu using an SSH client. When you connect, you will not receive a shell directly. Instead, you will be prompted for the fully qualified hostname of the Rice system you want to access.
The connection to the destination system will use the NetID you used to connect to ssh-staff.rice.edu.
Student Access to SSH Gateway
Students can connect to ssh-student.rice.edu using an SSH client. When you connect, you will not receive a shell directly. Instead, you will be prompted for the fully qualified hostname of the Rice system you want to access.
The connection to the destination system will use the NetID you used to connect to ssh-student.rice.edu.
Connecting to a Remote Host
When the SSH Gateway displays the prompt Enter remote host:, enter the fully qualified hostname of the Rice system you want to connect to.
SCP or SFTP Connections for File Transfers
SCP and SFTP provide secure methods for transferring files over SSH. Depending on the Rice service you are accessing, you can use an SCP or SFTP client to upload or download files.
For example, students can initiate an SFTP connection to the SSH Gateway from a terminal using:
sftp netid@ssh-student.rice.edu
Replace netid with your Rice NetID.
SSH Options for Windows
Windows users can connect to SSH systems using tools such as PuTTY, MobaXterm, or the built-in OpenSSH client available in modern versions of Windows.
If you need to run graphical Linux or UNIX applications using X11 forwarding, you may also need an X server such as Xming or use an SSH client that includes X11 support.
For detailed setup instructions, refer to the appropriate SSH or X11 guide listed in the SSH Tools section above.