SSH and File transfer

by Amit Biswas Posted Feb. 15, 2017

Given your credentials via email, you can now create a ssh session to connect to your server at code.engineering.nyu.edu.

If you are home (read: not connected to NYU wifi) you have to use NYU VPN). Scroll down the page to see the download link for the vpn client for your platform (Windows, Mac etc.). When the vpn client asks for the server address use vpn.nyu.edu and use your typical netid and password to authenticate.

SSH Clients

If you are using macOS, the built in terminal will do, but iTerm is the recommended terminal emulator. If using Windows, you can use PuTTY, or MobaXterm.

Open up iTerm, and you should see the terminal window pop up:

iTerm window
Figure 1. iTerm window.

Your username is your netid. Hit enter and when the prompt comes, enter the password. If successful, you will be dropped into a bash shell (More info about bash here). If you are adept, you can do everything straight from this shell. There are useful and powerful text editors avaialable on the server like vim. If you want to use something else not on the server, feel free to email me.

Bash list directory command
Figure 2. List of files & dirs in your home directory.

In your home directory, you should see a www directory. You can drop, write all your php, html/css code in there. If done properly, the files will be servered by the webserver apache on the following address: netid.code.engineering.nyu.edu. Replace netid with your own. There is already a simple index.html file placed in www directory.

list www directory
Figure 3. www directory contents.

You should be able to the following when you go the that url.

project webpage
Figure 4. Project homepage.

File Transfer

If you are on macOS, FileZilla works great. If you are on Windows, MobaXterm actually comes with a sftp client which pops up when you start an ssh session.

Once you download, FileZilla fill in the Host:code.engineering.nyu.edu, Username:netid, Password:ssh password and Port:22.

project webpage
Figure 1. FileZilla start window.

You may get a "Unknown host key" warning. Check "Always trust this host, and add this key to the cache", and hit OK.

project webpage
Figure 2. FileZilla unknown host warning.

You will see your home folder on the right side; and your pc on the left. Now you can easily drag and drop files to and from the server.

project webpage
Figure 3. FileZilla file browser.