JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY METEOROLOGY PROGRAM

HOW TO USE PUTTY.EXE

THINGS TO REMEMBER

Please remember that:

1. Putty.exe is NOT an ISP (Internet Service Provider) software (e.g., what you get from AOL, AT&T, etc. when pay a monthly fee); it is just a client based utility which allows our computers to recognize you as a "trusted/secure" user; it will not provide you access to the internet.

2. Putty only works on Windows computers; it is a graphical way to use ssh (Secure Shell), which is a UNIX "program" that allows users to logon to remote computers (like telnet) . If you are using UNIX systems that have this protocol, you'll have to use the "ssh" command.

e.g., [mahecha@eclipse mahecha]$ ssh twister.jsums.edu

What is on red indicates the computer that you are currently logged into, and your user name; this is just a "prompt"; user mahecha is logged in to the computer named eclipse. The green section, "ssh", is the command that you type followed by the turquoise text which indicates the computer that you want to access; in this case "twister.jsums.edu". At the new prompt, type your user name and password for the remote computer.

3. Putty.exe is a free download, and it can be found at http://www.ssh.com, or it can be e-mailed as an attachment upon request (see information bellow.)

4. Keep in mind that not all servers (twister, rainbow, stallion, ccaix, etc.) use the ssh protocol; some still use "telnet". Please, contact your System Administrator for details.

HOW TO OBTAIN PUTTY.EXE???

To have secure shell access (ssh) to machines in room 259, from Windows based PCs, please request putty.exe to Rafael Mahecha (JSU MP Technical Assistant, Phone #: (601)-979-3617, mahecha@.jsums.edu ), or downloaded from http://www.ssh.com, http://weather.jsums.edu, http://rainbow.jsums.edu, http://camille.jsums.edu, or http://eclipse.jsums.edu. Remember that telnet has been turned off in some computers for security reasons.

INSTRUCTIONS

Download the file in a place that you can easily remember (I suggest on your desktop); then icon will look like this:

With the left button of your mouse, double-click on the icon, and a window will appear, like this:

In the “Host Name” field enter the fully qualified name of the computer that you want to access (e.g., twister.jsums.edu, or rainbow.jsums.edu).

Click on the SSH, or Telnet dial (depending on the server that you want to login to).

Then, click in the “open” option, at the bottom of the dialog window.

A login window pops up:

At the prompt, type your user id/name and password.

If this is the first time that you use putty in your PC, the program will ask you if you want to create a “key” for the computer that you want to access; select “yes”; this will generate a “cookie” to enable better communication between computers… this question will be asked every time you want to access a new computer, but it is a one-time-process. If you say "no", the process will be aborted.

If you have any questions about using putty.exe, or accessing computers, contact me at the phone and e-mail listed above.

TO CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD...

To change your password, login with the assigned username and password. Once in the computer, type "passwd". You will be asked to type your "old/current" password, and then you will be prompted to for your new password. For security reasons, the computer will not allow you to type just any password; it will let you know the rules (e.g., how many words, alpha-numeric characters, etc.) that your new password has to comply with.

USING EMAIL...

Once you have login, type "pine" to start using email (pine is a UNIX utility that allows you to manage your emails; much like MS Outlook, Eudora, etc.) A new window will pop up with a help menu which is pretty self-explanatory.

As usual, if you have any questions, please contact Mr. Rafael Mahecha.

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