Connecting to ~grandline

Tutorial: Getting Started

Authorizing Your Key

Now you have to authorize or "install" your public key on ~grandline. Since I have disabled password authentication for security reasons, your only option is to e-mail me your id_rsa.pub file so I can install it for you. Linux users, please note that any file or folder starting with a period is hidden by default. You will not be able to connect to the server until I manually install your key.

Connecting on Linux

This process is incredibly easy, all you really need to do is open a terminal. If you're a Linux user, I'd like to recommend you install a drop-down terminal such as GUAKE (GNOME, derivatives) or YAKUAKE (KDE). It makes life alot easier.

  1. Open a terminal (commonly Ctrl+Alt+T)
  2. Type ssh username@jahschwa.com replacing username with your username
  3. If you created your key with a password, enter it to unlock the key

Editing SSH Config on Linux

You can make connecting alot easier on yourself by creating an SSH config file. This signficantly reduces how much you have to type on the command line to connect to the server.

  1. Edit the file ~/.ssh/config with your favorite editor
  2. Enter something similar to the example below and save it
  3. You can now connect using only ssh grandline

Host grandline
    HostName jahschwa.com
    User username

Configuring PuTTY on Windows

First download PuTTY. You don't have to install it; opening the executable runs the program. First you'll have to configure PuTTY to use your key file instead of a password. Then you'll be able to connect. Just make sure you know where PuTTY and your key files are. I suggest keeping them all in the same folder. Note that if you move your key file you'll have to update the path in your PuTTY config.

  1. Double-click on PuTTY to open it
  2. Go to "SSH" > "Auth" using the tree on the left (click on "SSH")
  3. Click the "Browse" button near the bottom right
  4. Find your id_rsa.ppk file and click OK
  5. Scroll back to the top of the tree on the left and click "Session"
  6. Enter jahschwa.com in "Host Name"
  7. Click on "Default Settings" (or create a new profile) and click "Save"

Connecting on Windows

Now we can finally connect! If you were using Linux, all of the configuration would have been done automatically. Just saying.

  1. Double-click on PuTTY to open it
  2. If you saved your settings in a profile, click its name then click "Load"
  3. Click "Open" at the bottom of PuTTY
  4. Click "Yes" if you get a security alert
  5. Enter your username and press enter
  6. If you gave your key a password, enter it and press enter
  7. Note that PuTTY will not echo the characters in your password; this is normal

Conclusion

Okay, now you can connect to the server and start doing some cool things. You can either start editing right away from PuTTY after reading about the Linux filesystem and basic terminal commands, or edit from the comfort of your local GUI by learning how to transfer files.