Putty SSH

PuTTY is a free Secure Shell client allowing you to connect securely to a server.

To run PuTTY, click here to download the file titled putty.exe to your desktop, and click the icon labeled putty.

Main Screen

Many configuration options are available via the tree view on the left pane of the window, however most do not need to be modified to use PuTTY. To get started quickly, type the name of the host you would like to connect to in the field labeled Host Name (or IP address). For Stern administration and staff, this will be eureka.stern.nyu.edu and for faculty it is grid.stern.nyu.edu. For students type in sales.stern.nyu.edu.

Connecting To A Server

After you have entered the hostname, click Open to open a connection to the server you entered. A terminal screen will appear once you connect to the host. If this is the first time you have ever connected to a particular server, you will be prompted to accept the server's host key to connect. This host key is a unique key for each server, and it ensures that every further attempt to connect to the server will always be to that server, and not some other server pretending to be the server you want to connect to. You will only need to accept a key once for each server you connect to. Click Yes to accept the key and continue the login process.

Logging In

After a server key is accepted, the main terminal window will prompt you for a username. Enter your usual Stern NetID and hit return. Next, you will be prompted for your password. The password will be your usual password you use for logging into Webmail, the labs, etc. After you successfully enter your password, you will be given a UNIX prompt. (Click here for a Basic Unix How-to-guide.) When you're done, simply type exit to log out and the PuTTY window will close.