Interactive - Logging in using PuTTY

Introduction

PuTTY is a free implementation of Telnet and SSH for Win32 platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator. Since Interactive(interactive.cs.tamu.edu) allows only SSH from users, PuTTY can be used to logon to Interactive from a Windows machine. The basic steps of using PuTTY to logon to Interactive are:

(a) Get PuTTY (b) Configure PuTTY to connect to connect to Interactive

(a) Get PuTTY (for Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000 and XP on Intel x86)

1. Create a folder named Putty on your C: drive
2. Download putty by clicking on http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest/x86/putty.exe
   When the File Download dialog box pops up (Fig. 1), choose the option of Save this program on disk and save it on your C: drive in the folder named Putty.
   
   
   Fig 1. Save file to C: drive
   
   When the download is complete the following will appear (Fig. 2).
   
   
   Fig 2. Download complete
   
   
3. Click on Close.

   Note: PuTTY is now successfully installed on your Windows machine. Continue to (b) for a Basic Configuration of PuTTY

(b) PuTTY – Basic configuration :

Connect to interactive.cs.tamu.edu with the following steps :

1. Go to the Putty folder on your C: drive and double click on the file name putty.exe. A PuTTY Configuration window will pop up (Fig. 3)
   
   
   Fig 3. PuTTY configuration
   
   
2. Type interactive.cs.tamu.edu in the Host Name or(IP address) field.
3. You need to check these things:
   • In the Protocol option, choose SSH. Make sure that the Port is 22. In the Saved Sessions field, type interactive.cs.tamu.edu and click on Save.

     NOTE : The next time you need to log on, you can skip steps 1,2, and 3 and just click on Load once the putty configuration window comes up.

   • interactive.cs.tamu.edu
   • choose SSH
   • interactive.cs.tamu.edu
   • click on Open
     
     
     Fig 4. Putty configuration (connection setup)
     
     
4. Click on Open. If you are using putty for the very first time, you will get a PuTTY Security Alert window.(Fig. 4). Click on Yes.

Fig 5. PuTTY security warning

This will open a unix.cs.tamu.edu – PuTTY window for you on interactive.cs.tamu.edu.

Fig 6. PuTTY shell

Enter your Unix username and password. Once accepted, you are logged in and can continue with your work.

NOTE: The Username (or login name) and PassPhrase should contain your username and passphrase that you use to login to interactive.cs.tamu.edu on-campus. Do NOT type “username” and “PassPhrase” in the respective fields.