Connecting to a remote host from Windows through MobaXterm
At MTSU, the Computer Science Department's server is named ranger. A server is a computer that serves up information to other computers on a network. Unlike a small personal computer that you physically handle to use, ranger is a server that we will use via a network connection. The ranger computer system is a server that provides a UNIX environment.
In CSCI-2170 class, we are going to use ranger for C++ programming in UNIX environment. The question is, how do we access the ranger server to get the services we want?
In Lab 0, we can use a terminal client called PuTTy to connect to ranger server. In order to execute GUI commands on the remote machine, and display the GUI in your local computer sceen(e.g.: scite editor), we also need to install and configure an X server called VcXsrv. The lab manager has already installed and configured VcXsrv/PuTTy combo on the lab machines in KOM 360.
Another easier way for Miscrosoft Windowss Users to connect to ranger is through MobaXterm. Students are encouraged to use MobaXterm from home and the PuTTY/VcXsrv combo in the KOM labs.
Download and Install MobaXterm
You can download the latest version of MobaXterm from: http://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/download-home-edition.htmlYou should select the MobaXterm Home Edition (Portable Edition):
Logging in ranger remotely using MobaXterm
To connect to the ranger server from your personal Microsoft Windows computer, you will need to use a program known as a MobaXterm
Locate the MobaXterm icon on your mac.
Double-click the MobaXterm icon to activate the app.
You will then see a window like the following. Please click the Session Icon in the uppser left corner to start a new Session.
You will see a window like the following after you click the Session Icon. Then click the SSH Icon in the uppser left corner and press the OK button.
Now, you will see a window like the following. Please enter ranger.cs.mtsu.edu in the field of Remote host, please make sure the Port number is 22, then press OK button.
Then, you will see a log in window like the following:
Use your course account information to access ranger.
At the login as: prompt,
enter your course account's C-number
(that is, the 8 character login username you were assigned;
for example, c8294612).
NOTE: UNIX is case-sensitive, that is, it distinguishes between upper and lower case letters. It is important to type the information exactly as indicated.
Then, you will get a pop up window, Do you want to save pasword for your c-number, please hit No button:
If you entered something wrong, you will get an error message:
Access denied
Keyboard-interactive authentication prompts from server:
Password:
If you typed the password wrong, you will be able to re-enter
the password information.
Once you successfully login to the server, you will see something like:
(This MobaXterm guide is initially created by Dr. Roland Untch , it is revised in Fall 2020 by Dr. Xin Yang) Reference1 Reference2