Title:  How can I make login connections between computers on the Internet?

Question:
I need to connect from my account on one computer to another computer to
log in and read my email or do other work. Sometimes this means from my UW
Uniform Access computer account to a remote computer, and sometimes the
reverse. How should I do this?

Answer:
Most computers that are directly connected to the Internet have the "ssh"
program, or some variant, which may be named differently, available for
this purpose. Ssh is available on all the Uniform Access computers. If you
don't find ssh on other systems, check the documentation or ask the
computer support staff.

Note that the "ssh" (secure shell client, remote login program) replaces 
the old Unix "telnet" and "rsh" programs which are not secure.  Using ssh 
to connect to remote computers encrypts your communications which will 
protect your password and other data transmitted over the network from the 
threat of being intercepted by a third party.

The ssh program enables you to conduct a dialog with another computer
when the two are connected to the same network. This means you can log in
to an account and do interactive work, such as run an email program. 

Here is how to use ssh from the Unix shell prompt on the Uniform Access
computers. (Note: on Homer/Dante you must choose "S - shell" at
the first menu in order to get to the shell prompt.)

To "ssh" to another computer on the Internet, do the following: 

At the shell prompt type: 

	ssh  host.domain -l userid

(Substitute in the computer's full internet address for "host.domain" and
your own UW NetID or login name for that computer for "userid"

For example, to ssh to the Mead computer type:

	ssh  mead.u.washington.edu  -l myid

When the connection is made you'll be prompted to log in to your account.  
When you are finished, the command "logout" will usually close the
connection and quit ssh. 

Note that upon your first use of ssh to connect to a particular
computer you will see some host fingerprint information. Enter
"yes" to confirm your acceptance of the host finger print and complete
the login process by entering your password at the prompt.

Security warnings should not be ignored.  Contact the administrator of
the remote system to verify their security fingerprint has changed.