ET181:Connecting to the SUN Computer Server "condor"

Topics:
Access to the SUN computer "condor"
Logging into and out of the system
Basic UNIX commands

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Access to the SUN computer "condor"

The ET181 course uses a SUN SPARC 10 computer server (named condor) which is located in Room 265 Stocker Center (Dr.Iz's office) and can be accessed remotely through the University ethernet system. You will be given an account only on this computer. There are two distinct modes of access, depending on what you would like to do. The ssh (secure shell) access mode allows a remote PC to behave as a "dumb terminal" of the SUN computer, whereas the sftp (secure file transfer protocol) allows the transfer of files between a PC and condor. You cannot mix modes of access and will have to decide a priori which mode you wish to use. All the PCs in the Stocker computer labs (Rooms 308, 267 or 127) can be used to access the condor computer. In the ET181 course you will use both modes of access, as required.

New for Fall 2009 - Finally it happened. We have had to block telnet (teletype network) access to the condor computer server, since it has been determined to be a security risk, thus the PCs in the Stocker computer labs only allow ssh (secure shell) for logging on. This is unfortunate, since telnet allowed access directly from the web. Fortunately there is a freely available implementation of a ssh client for Windows operating systems named PuTTY, which has been developed and maintained by Simon Tatham and can be downloaded directly in a portable binary format as an executable file named putty.exe. This file can be conveniently stored on and executed directly from a flash-drive. Thus for those of us who have personal laptops, we will still be able to conveniently access condor through the ssh option using putty in Perk's Coffee House, Donkey Coffee, or wherever there is wireless internet access (I find it much more relaxing to develop my C++ programs while sipping on a medium chai-tea-latte.). When you invoke putty be sure that the ssh option is highlighted and assuming that your condor login id us smithj, fill in the host address as follows: smithj@condor.ent.ohiou.edu.
For the lucky few of us who have Macs, the process is a lot simpler since all current Macs use the UNIX operating system which automatically includes the ssh option. Open the web and fill in the url as follows:
ssh://smithj@condor.ent.ohiou.edu

Quick Quiz: What does url stand for and what are the two main components of a url?

Concerning sfpt (secure file transfer protocol) which we will not require before lab 7, again Simon Tatham has come to our rescue, and has developed a portable binary format file which can be downloaded directly from his website as an executable file named psftp,exe (putty secure file transfer protocol). We will have more information on using this protocol in lab 7.
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Updated 9/22/2009)

Accessing condor from the PCs in the Stocker computer labs
One first needs to complete the PC login process using your oak ID user name and password. Follow the instructions on the PC to complete the PC logon, and then continue as follows:

Host Name:  condor.ent.ohiou.edu
User Name:  smithj
Port Number:
Authorization method: Password

Login to condor

SunOS 5.9
login:
smithj
Password: xxxxxxxx

condor{smithj}1: passwd
changing old password for smithj
Old password: xxxxxxxx
New password: yyyyyyyy
Re-enter new password: yyyyyyyy
condor{smithj}2:

Logout of condor and the PC

Basic UNIX commands

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