Accessing Your Data

There are a number of different ways to access your data, and move bits around. In general, we encourage the use of encryption and secure connections. The methods and tools below will provide access to your home-directory data (stored on our central file-servers).

Quite simply, you can use ssh or ftp to access your data with your research account by connecting to research.iat.sfu.ca.

Command Line Access

Windows

PuTTy

Mac OS-X

Built-in: use Terminal, and issue 'ssh <user>@<target_machine>'

Finder -> Go -> Utilities -> Terminal

gordonps-Computer:~ gordonp$ ssh gordp@wallace.iat.sfu.ca

If this is the first time you've connected, you will be greeted with a question about whether you want to continue connecting; answer yes:

The authenticity of host 'wallace.iat.sfu.ca (209.87.56.103)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is 73:0f:7d:5c:50:16:31:e8:2b:12:fe:90:34:ac:a9:0b.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes

If you have connected previously, and the key has changed (for a variety of reasons) you might have to briefly edit your .ssh/known_hosts file to remove the conflicting key. A simpler alternative is to remove your .ssh/known_hosts file altogether, and begin collecting keys anew.

Linux/IRIX

same as Mac OS-X
ToDo

• HowTo
  • target machines/IP-addresses
• screenshots

GUI Access

Windows

WinSCP, freeNX client

Mac OS-X

Fugu

You can obtain Fugu from http://rsug.itd.umich.edu/software/fugu/ (or, if this link is broken, try this File:Fugu-1.2.0-English.dmg).

Once installed, you can drag-and-drop files between your local machine, and your centralized Research home directory (or any other machine supporting SSH / SFTP). For all intents and purposes, the behaviour is like traditional FTP, except that all data (including your password!) is encrypted.

When you start Fugu, here are some typical settings you must supply in order to connect:

If this is your first time connecting to a server, then you will be prompted to accept the RSA key (which you must do):

Once you successfully connect, this is what a typical session will look like; you can drag-and-drop files in either direction:

FreeNX Client

This requires X-windows be installed on your Mac. See an Administrator to have XCode tools installed (or prepare by doing this yourself). The X-window session is run "rooted" (that is, it takes over your entire screen); to switch back to OS-X, you press Apple-Option-A.

The FreeNX client goes far beyond simply transferring files - rather, it is a complete "remote desktop". Generally, host-machines are not (yet) configured to provide this service, but if needed will will do so (in preference to Apple Remote Desktop, VNC, or other technologies).

You can download the FreeNX client for Mac from http://www.nomachine.com/ or, use this [[Image:|local copy]]

After running the Wizard (and for subsequent sessions) you should see a screen something like this (please not that my use of Port 222 is non-standard; Port 22 should normally be used):

Here is an example of a Custom connection command (which you don't require if you're using Gnome or KDE; choose those window-managers rather than Custom). In this case, I am invoking a light-weight window-manager:

In all circumstances, whether you run a "stock" Gnome/KDE session, or a Custom one, you MUST enable SSL!!! This is what "tunnels" your X-window session over SSH:

After everything is configured, and for every subsequent connect, once you launch NXClient, you should be greeted with this screen:

An established connection, showing the remote window-manager and desktop:

Linux

Konqueror

Typical Konqueror address-bar syntax (where the fish:// protocol means "over SSH"). Replace gordp with your Research username:

fish://gordp@teleport.iat.sfu.ca/

You are prompted for your Research password:

Resulting connection:

In Konqueror, if you split the window and show both a local directory and the remote one, you can easily drag-and-drop files from one to the other (from the Konqueror menu-bar: Window -> Split View Left/Right):

IRIX

not known
ToDo

• FreeNX to become our preferred GUI
  • client availability t.b.d. We should have direct links for local-downloads, to help users
• screenshots

NFS/SMB Mounting

NFS mounting is not available off-campus.
SMB mounting is not available off-campus.

Windows

SMB mount - automatic upon successful login

Mac OS-X

NFS mount - automatic upon successful login

Linux

NFS mount - automatic upon successful login

IRIX

NFS mount - automatic upon successful login
ToDo

• HowTo
  • typical /etc/fstab entries for the Linux DIY'er
  • target machines/IP-addresses