Connecting to a Campus System via SSH (macOS or Linux)

Overview

This tutorial is for members of Science seeking to establish an SSH connection to a campus PC/server without having VPN access.

Audience

This tutorial is written for:

  • Members of the Faculty of Science (faculty/staff/student)
  • Those comfortable with computers and installing/configuring software
  • People using a Mac or Linux system as their client computer.

Prerequisites

To complete this tutorial, you must:

  • Have a PC or server on campus that is already configured for SSH connections (including having the service enabled and the correct firewall ports open)
  • Know the hostname or IP address of the PC or server on campus to which you wish to connect
  • Have requested and been approved for access to gate.sci.uwo.ca

Tutorial

The process for Mac or Linux systems is almost identical. The only minor difference is in step 1, where you launch a Terminal application.
  1. Mac Users: Press F4 to open the Launchpad.  Search for  terminal and click the icon to launch the application.
    Terminal in the Launchpad

    Linux Users: Find and launch a Terminal app, or Command line. In Linux / Fedora / Debian Linux the simplest and quickest way is to use the keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Alt + T
     
  2. Execute the following command, replacing  username with your Western username: 
    ssh username@gate.sci.uwo.ca
    Establishing an SSH connection
  3. If you receive a warning about the authenticity of the host, type  yes  and press  Enter.  This is normal and expected when connecting to a host via SSH for the first time.
    Host Authenticity Warning
  4. When prompted, enter your Western password.   Note that you will not be able to see what you are typing when entering your password.
    SSH Authentication
  5. Once connected, SSH to the campus system to which you wish to connect.  In the example below, we SSH from gate.sci.uwo.ca to mypc.uwo.ca. 
    Establishing an SSH Connection to a Remote System
  6. Once finished, type exit and press  Enter.
    Disconnecting