Classroom and Lab Computing

SFTP Access

Quick Instructions

• SFTP to my.win.psu.edu
• log in with your Access Account userid and password
• change to your folder (e.g., /U-Drive/x/y/xyz123)
• you (and everyone else, see sharing) will have the same access to folders and files as when connected via Windows networking
• you should be able to list file names in other people's root folder, but should not be able to read the contents or navigate lower unless they have given you permission; see the note on privacy.

Details

SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) access is provided for occasional use from machines or locations that cannot connect using standard Windows file sharing.  An example of this would be someone that is outside of the Penn State Network.

SFTP Clients

• Windows: SSH Secure Shell for windows, which can be downloaded by any Penn State person at https://www.work.psu.edu/access/ssh/
• OS X: MacSFTP, which can be downloaded by any Penn State person at https://www.work.psu.edu/access/MacSFTP
• Linux: A SFTP client is normally provided with the SSH package in most Linux distributions.

Step By Step Instructions to connect per client

Windows SSH Secure File Transfer Instructions:

• Click Quick Connect
• Specify the following information
  • Hostname: my.win.psu.edu
  • User Name: Your Penn State Access Account (ex. abc123)
  • Port Number: 22
  • Authentication Method:  The default setting of <Profile Settings> should work, if not select Password
• Click Connect
• When prompted for a password, enter Your Penn State Access Account Password.

OS X MacSFTP Instructions:

When the application starts it will prompt you for the following:

• Host: my.win.psu.edu
• User name: Your Penn State Access Account (ex. abc123)
• Password: Your Penn State Access Account Password
• Click connect

Problem Solving

Q: I was uploading a file and it stopped in the middle and now it won't upload any files, why?
A: Some SFTP clients do not check to make sure you have enough space to upload a file before it starts it, so it begins the transfer and when it hits your quota it can no longer add to the file and stops.  You are also now out of free space, thus you cannot add any more files.  Delete the partially uploaded file and make additional space before trying to upload the file.

History

FTP Access was decommissioned on 6/30/2004.  This was due to University-wide efforts to eliminate services where the Access Account password is sent unencrypted.  SFTP was selected to replace the FTP service as it encrypted all the contents of the session and because it is used with other university services.