SSH access to databases at DIMDI From November 2013 we will be fulfilling the requirement of a large number of users for increased security during research activities. For this, we will be providing a better alternative to the Telnet access used up to now. This will allow you to access our data via SSH by way of an authenticated, encrypted connection. In contrast to Telnet, all network traffic is transmitted in an encrypted manner, including passwords. The DIMDI will stop all Telnet connections from the end January 2014. A prerequisite for using the SSH connection is that you inform us of your fixed IP address and your public key. We will enter this IP address (not possible for dynamic IP addresses) in our firewall. The public key will be entered into our system and allows your access. You may still have to enter our host name (grips.dimdi.de) on your side, in your firewall. A range of programs are available free of charge for access via SSH, for example PuTTY or Tera Term. An example is provided below of how you can set up your access using PuTTY. Host name configuration First, install the program. After invocation, the PuTTY configuration starts with the "Session" category for providing details about the target computer. Enter "grips.dimdi.de" under Host Name, and "55557" under Port. SSH access to DIMDI website page 1
Log file Select the subitem "Logging" (Options controlling session logging) to capture your research in a text file. Select "Printable output" and enter the path for your log file under "Log file name". To ensure that no log is lost, we recommend selecting the associated option "Always append to the end of it". In this manner, a file is updated and can always be cleared again once you have saved your results. Alternatively, you can enter a different file path in each instance. SSH access to DIMDI website page 2
Back key To perform corrections by means of the Back key ( ), select "Control-H" under "Terminal" - "Keyboard" (Options controlling the effects of keys). Window size Set your windows and buffer under "Window" (Options controlling PuTTY's window). For this, select a sufficient number of columns and rows (Columns and Rows) as well as scrollback lines (Lines of scrollback). SSH access to DIMDI website page 3
Font and background colour Use the menu option "Window Colours to change the foreground and background colours (Options controlling use of colours: Default Foreground and/or Default Background). This avoids having to work with a white font on a black background. You can set the exact colour by clicking on Modify. If you prefer to work with black font on white, select 0 or 255 for all RGB values. SSH access to DIMDI website page 4
Specifying login details Enter "gripsssh" under "Connections Data" (Data to send to the server) in the field "Auto-login username". Entering the key Your private key (rsa suffix) must be converted into the PuTTY format (ppk suffix). To do this, use the PUTTY Key Generator (puttygen.exe). Store this key on your PC. Now open additional subitems (click "+") under "Connection SSH" and select "Auth" (Options controlling SSH authentication). Enter the storage location for your key in the field "Private key file for identification". SSH access to DIMDI website page 5
Saving settings You can store these settings so that you do not have to re-enter them every time. For this, assign a name to the profile (menu "Session", store via "Save", see screenshot p. 1 ) in the field "Saved sessions". You can then select your profiles from here at a later stage via "Load". Establishing a connection Under "Session", you can connect with the DIMDI using the profile of your choice (click on "Open"). You will receive the usual message "Hello from DIMDI: Please enter Usercode:" Please note, that you cannot use the shortcuts Ctrl + C und Ctrl + V for copy and insert out of the clipboard. Simply by marking you can copy texts into the clipboard and insert contents by click with the right mouse button at this level. Cost calculation prior to logout Enter "STOP" to end your research, and to disconnect. As the window closes immediately, you will not be able to read the cost calculation. You can however find the information in your log file. You can call up the cost information via "INFO COST=SESSION before logging out. SSH access to DIMDI website page 6