Benefits of configuring SSH

SSH can be used more efficiently when configured.

Motivation #

In the section First connection over SSH, we describe how to connect to the CCB cluster, typing all the information necessary to establish the connection at the Terminal prompt.

When connecting to CCB cluster on a regular basis – often multiple times a day –, typing that information becomes a tedious process that is also subject to typographical errors forcing users to start over the connection process.

Instead, the SSH client can be configured to ease the process of connection to remote computers.

In the following pages, we describe steps commonly taken to configure an SSH client for connecting more rapidly and securely to the CCB cluster.

Prerequisites #

This section expects a minimum of familiarity with the Linux command line and commands that are described in later sections of this website.

In particular, you will be expected to:

• Execute Bash commands in a Linux environment.
• View and edit files in the Terminal.
• Optionally, Navigate directories.

Make sure that you are comfortable with the information listed above before attempting to configure your SSH client.

You may also find it helpful to keep those pages open while following the instructions to configure your SSH client.

Final advice #

In doubt, ask a system adminstrator or an experienced colleague to guide you through the instructions in the following pages.

Those instructions describe a one-time setup process.

Once you have gone through the process and tested that the new SSH configuration works, you can choose to establish new connections to the CCB cluster using either the newly configured shortcuts or the username and password as you did for your First connection over SSH.