Change in Access to Marcus

Starting November 1, 2002, access to Marcus will be changed from the Telnet protocol to the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol to add security. That is, you will be required to access marcus.whitman.edu using programs that support SSH protocol.

Unless you install a version of telnet that supports SSH, you will not be able to access Marcus after November 1.

Checking Your Computer for SSH

If you are using TeraTerm on a Windows machine, it will say "SSH Authentication" at the top of the window as when you log on. If you have a Macintosh and use Nifty Telnet SSH to connect to Marcus, the window where you type your username and password will have the heading "SSH Login" at the top of the window. Most computers that were set up by WCTS in the last few years support connections to Marcus with SSH.

If you are not sure whether your communications program supports SSH, please get a new version.

Obtaining SSH Software

You can obtain free SSH programs for Windows (TeraTerm) and Macintosh computers (Nifty Telnet SSH) from the WCTS web site. If you'd rather not install new software program, you can use Web-based SSH by pointing your browser to http://people.whitman.edu/mindterm or follow the "SSH to Marcus" link found within the "toolbox" section of the student, faculty and staff Web pages.

Background Information

Telnet is one of the original protocols developed with Unix and is used for text-based access to UNIX servers. If you have been using PINE email on Marcus, you were using "telnet." The problem with the Telnet protocol is that all information is sent over the network in "clear text" format, making it possible for someone to capture and read transmitted information. The SSH protocol allows you to create an encrypted, text-based connection to a server, thereby making it more secure. This is part of on-going WCTS initiative to increase security on Whitman network. Additional information about SSH can be found online at: http://wcts.whitman.edu/docs/ssh.html.

Kevin Kelly