How to: Use SSH

Follow these instructions to set up SSH using PuTTY, an SSH client for Windows.

1. Download the PuTTY program installer for Windows from http://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/0.62/x86/putty.exe.
2. Double click the downloaded file. Follow the onscreen instructions for installation.
3. Go to Start->All Programs->Putty->Putty.
4. You will see the PuTTY configuration screen. In the Host Name (or IP address) textbox type in district.bluegrass.kctcs.edu.
5. Make sure that, under Protocol, the SSH radio button is selected.
6. In the Saved Sessions textbox type an appropriate name for this connection, eg. District Server.
7. Click the Save button to the right of the box below the Saved Sessions textbox. Your server connection information should now be saved.
8. Double-click on the new connection entry that you just created in the big box below the Saved Sessions textbox.
9. You will now see a black window pop up. Also, a dialog box will appear, with a message saying that the server's host key is not cached in the registry. Just click OK in the dialog box to proceed.
10. You will now see a prompt in the window that says Login as: Type in you username that was sent to you via email when you signed up for your account, and press Enter.
11. You will then be prompted for your password. Type it in; note that as you type, you will not see any sort of indication that your password is being entered. This is OK; just press Enter when you are done typing.
12. If you have entered your password correctly, you will see a brief message pop up on your screen. This is the Message of the Day (MOTD) which will have important information about system maintenance, outages, etc.

Now you are ready to use your shell account!