SSH Secure Shell for Windows

SSH allows users to connect securely to a remote computer host such as comp.uark.edu or cavern.uark.edu. SSH is part of the larger category of terminal applications, which are software programs designed to allow your PC to emulate another type of computer. These programs allow you to log on to a much more powerful computer and perform tasks as if you were actually working on the remote computer itself. Secure Shell software is like Telnet except that it establishes an encrypted connection between the two systems, transparently providing strong authentication and secure communication over the network. When you SSH to comp.uark.edu or cavern.uark.edu, you are then working in the Unix operating system, and you are able to use Unix commands and access the software that is on that server.
Note: You cannot use the mouse in a terminal window except to copy and paste and click menu items.

Installation

1. Download SSH Secure Shell (available to UA students, faculty, and staff; log in with your UARK username and password).
2. Double-click on the SSHWinSecureShell3.2.9 icon on your desktop (or on the filename in the location in which the file was saved). If you have an older version of SSH installed, you will be asked if you want to upgrade. Click OK.
3. Read the License Agreement and click the Yes button; click Next through the Location, Program Folder, Select Components, and Check Setup dialog boxes. Two applications will be available after installation, SSH Secure Shell Client and SSH Secure File Transfer Client.

Logging In

Open the SSH Secure Shell Client or the Secure File Transfer Client.

1. Press Enter.
2. Type the host name in the Host Name: field. This could be:
   comp.uark.edu
   cavern.uark.edu
   or another server name. Type your UARK username in the User Name field and leave the port number at the default and the Authentication Method set to Profile Settings.
3. Click through any messages from the server (such as "Welcome" boxes). Enter your password in the Enter Authentication Response Password: field and click OK; click OK on the second Enter Authentication Response dialog box. The first time you use either SSH Secure Shell or SSH Secure File Transfer to connect to a specific server, you will see the Host Identification dialog box. Click the Yes button.
   Note: You can also click the New File Transfer Window button from Secure Shell after login to open Secure File Transfer and be automatically logged in or click the New Terminal Window button from Secure File Transfer after login to open Secure Shell and be automatically logged in.

Using SSH Secure Shell Client

After you are connected, you will see the Unix prompt and you can begin typing commands. The default prompt on comp.uark.edu is:
comp%
The default prompt on cavern.uark.edu is:
cavern%

To end your SSH Unix session, type:
exit
at the prompt.

See our Unix information page for more information.

Using SSH Secure File Transfer Client

After you are connected, you will see the files and directories that are on your account on the right and your local computer on the left. Click and drag files from Remote to Local or vice versa (drag files into the white space on either side) to transfer files between your computer and your account. By default, SSH Secure File Transfer will set the read permission on files transferred to your account. This can be changed in the settings. Click the Disconnect button or File, Disconnect to end the FTP session.

Note: SSH and SFTP for off campus users is configured with that time-out feature where the session times out after 5-10 minutes of inactivity. Current security standards prohibit the modification of that feature.

Note: You can also click the New File Transfer Window button from Secure Shell after login to open Secure File Transfer and be automatically logged in or click the New Terminal Window button from Secure File Transfer after login to open Secure Shell and be automatically logged in.