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Logging in to the university server

Here you will find answers to the following questions:
• Which server to log in to?
• Which program to use when logging in to a server?
• Using SSH Secure Shell
• Using Putty
• Transporting files


Which server to log in to?

You only need to log in to the server in rare cases as there are web interfaces both for reading e-mail: https://mailhost.ut.ee and for changing the password: https://passwd.ut.ee.

You need to log in to the server in cases where the web mail is too slow or if you wish to use pine for reading e-mails or if you need to give access rights for some web pages on the internet.

Several departments and administration have their own servers:

  • General - adalberg.ut.ee
  • Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science - math.ut.ee

We recommend the users of the University's computer network, who have their own server in the department, to use that server when logging in to a server. All other users can use the above-mentioned University servers for logging in.


Which program to use when logging in to a server?

When logging in to a server, please use some client program that knows SSH protocol, such as SSH Secure Shell or Putty. We do not recommend using the Telnet client program as this is not secure - your user ID and password will be sent without encryption when you log in.


How to get these programs?

SSH Secure Shell
The University of Tartu has a registered site license for using SSH Secure Shell. You can find the program from the University's FTP server at: ftp://ftp.ut.ee/pub/unix/security/ssh/ . For different versions of Windows, choose the SSHSecureShellClient-3.2.3.exe file or its later version.



Putty
Putty is a SSH client program, which you can find on the webpage of the Department of Information Technology at: http://www-1.ut.ee/it/teenused/soft/putty.exe . It is a tiny program (324 KB), which needs no extra installation, so just save it on your Desktop.


Using SSH Secure Shell

SSH Secure Shell comprises of two client programs: the SSH Secure Shell Client, which enables secure login to server and the SSH Secure File Transfer Client, which enables a secure file transfer between the server and your computer. Please use SSH Secure Shell Client for logging into the server.

Open the program and start the session with the Connect command. To do this, choose the Connect command from the File menu or press Enter. Enter the name of the server into which you wish to log in to on the Host Name: line. Then enter the computer network's username on the User Name: line and click Connect.

You will now be asked for your password. Enter your password on the Password: line and click OK.
After you have logged in to the server, you will be on the terminal window in the UNIX environment. The following command line will be displayed on the screen:
[2] mallem@juridica:~>
Analogous to Telnet, you can give commands and start programs on the terminal window only from the command line by entering them through the keyboard. All commands have to be given with pressing the Enter key.

Some examples of most commonly used commands:

  • to start a mail program, type pine on the command line and press Enter
  • to view the contents of your home catalogue, type ls and press Enter
  • to change the catalogue, write cd catalogue_name and Enter
  • you can return to your home catalogue by using the cd command and pressing Enter
  • to finish a session, write exit or logout and press Enter

[3] mallem@juridica:~> exit


Using Putty

To log in to a server you can also use the Putty program. You will find the instructions about Putty settings at: http://www.math.ut.ee/VAK/KKK/KKK_putty.html.

However, Putty can also be used without configurations, SSH still needs to be set as a session protocol and the protocol on version 2 (Connection/SSH/Preferred SSH Protocol version). To do that, type in the server name you wish to log in to on the Host Name line on the window which opens when you start Putty. Choose SSH for protocol and start the session by clicking Open.

Then you need to enter your username on the login as: line and your password on the password: line.
NB! The password will not be displayed on the screen, even the ******** symbols will not be seen. Analogous to Telnet or SSH Secure Client, a command line will be displayed on the screen after entering your password. Here you can continue by entering the relevant command.
[4] mallem@juridica:~>
See also: most often used commands.


Transporting files

In case your computer is switched to the University's computer network, then you can map your home catalogue as a network drive and save files directly on your home catalogue on the server. Please refer to Domain Log-In for instructions.

You will need to transport files or use the Secure FTP when you wish to move files from an external computer network, e.g. your home computer to your home catalogue in the server or to do the opposite, that is to get files from your home catalogue. You can also use it in the University computer network.


SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)

As mentioned above, the SSH Secure Shell comprises of two client programs: the SSH Secure Shell Client, enabling the secure logging in to server, and the SSH Secure Shell File Transfer Client, which allows you to transport files, that SFTP is using.

In order to transport files, first start the program and begin with the SFTP session with the Connect command. To do this, choose the Connect or the Quick Connect command from the File menu. Logging in to a server is done in the same way as with SSH Secure Shell Client. Enter the name of the server that you wish to log in to and your user ID in the Connect to Remote Host window (will be opened). A window for entering your password will be opened.

Now you can see the contents of your home catalogue. The following example uses the math.ut.ee server. The user name will be: stud33.

The action, during which you wish to move files from your computer to the server, is called uploading (Upload). The action, during which you wish to move files from the server to your computer, is called downloading (Download).

Here are two examples about using these actions:

Uploading files or moving to the server

Let's assume that there is a subfolder called My publications under My Documents on your hard disk. There is a literature_list.html file under the subfolder, which you wish to transport to the server to a subfolder named public_html/literature/ in your home catalogue.

Open the public_html folder in the SFTP window (double-click the folder name) and then open the literature subfolder. When the necessary folder is active or opened (in this case the open folder is the literature subfolder), click on the Upload button or choose the same command from the Operation menu.

Choose a file on your computer's hard disk that you wish to transfer to server from the popup window and then click Upload. In this example you should first find My Documents, then the My publications subfolder, choose the literature_list.html file and press Upload.

This file will now be saved in your home catalogue server. You can finish the session by choosing the Disconnect command on the File menu. See also the section about accessing rights under Domain Log-In.


Downloading files or transferring from the server to computer's hard disk

Let's assume that you saved your document at your workplace or in the computer class to your home catalogue in the server (name of the file is Description.doc) under Win subfolder and you wish to open the same file in your home computer.

Open the Win folder in the SFTP window and choose the Description.doc file. Now click Download or choose the same command from the Operation menu.

Now choose a folder on your computer's hard disk, into which you wish to save your Description.doc file and download the file to your computer by clicking Download.

The chosen file will be saved on your computer's hard disk. Finish the session by choosing the Disconnect command on the File menu.