Network Login

UCC members with accounts can log in over the Internet to several of our machines. This page details the inbound connection protocols we support, the various charges levied and how to avoid them.

Connection Methods and Protocols

This is not a tutorial. If you want to find out how to use SSH, type man ssh at a UNIX shell, or ask someone in the clubroom.

Most UCC servers are available for user logons. We support remote logons both from within the clubroom, and the Internet at large. Currently, we make SSH and SCP/SFTP access available, with Telnet and FTP accessible for legacy clients.

We strongly discourage the use of unsecured and unencrypted protocols, such as Telnet or FTP. SSH and SFTP/SCP are excellent replacements, and should be used wherever possible.

Most Linux and UNIX operating systems, as well as Mac OS X, have SSH clients installed with the system software - on Windows, PuTTY makes a superb SSH client, and graphical SCP/SFTP clients include FileZilla and WinSCP. If you can't install an SSH client, you can use our web-based shell.

UCC Network Access

Accessing the UCC network from outside is, for newbies, sometimes difficult or confusing. Additionally, it can get very expensive.

So, follow our handy guide, based on your current location and connection to the Internet:

I am in UCC

Ask someone! (You can either walk up and use, or directly connect to, just about every machine.)

I am on campus at UWA

Can't be bothered walking to UCC, or in the labs and craving access to IRC? Virtually any computer at UWA can connect directly to UCC - run ssh user@machine.ucc.asn.au.

You can also connect directly through the SNAP wireless network. If your laptop is in range of a SNAP access point, you don't need to connect to the SNAP VPN to reach UCC - you can SSH or SFTP to username@snap.ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au (an alias for Mussel).

Finally, you can leverage UCC's superior network connectivity to avoid traffic charges imposed by the University. On the SNAP wireless network, do not connect to the SNAP VPN, but create a PPTP VPN (standard Windows VPN) connection to snap.ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au using your UCC username and password. If you're not on SNAP, you should create a VPN connection to pptp.ucc.asn.au.

Note: the security of PPTP VPN connections is directly proportional to the strength of your password. You should use a strong password to prevent people interfering with your connection.

I am at another University or connected via a WAIX ISP

You may be on a network that we don't get charged for access from. Use the UCC Traffic Tester to check your current IP.
If it's marked as free, then you can connect directly to most UCC machines and services: ssh user@machine.ucc.asn.au.

Tip: bur.st Networks, an organisation who provide free shell accounts to Australian residents, are on the free network list, and are accessible from anywhere. If you have a bur.st account, you can connect directly from the bur.st shell server to UCC machines.

If it's not marked as free, go to the next section.

I have IPv6

You have IPv6? (If you don't know, you probably don't.) So do we! You can SSH to martello.ipv6.ucc.asn.au or mussel.ipv6.ucc.asn.au, although because of the way that IPv6 is currently routed it might be a bit slow.

I am on a computer somewhere else

If you're not at UWA, and you're not on a free network, you cannot connect directly to UCC computers.

You can connect to Martello via SSH and SFTP by using ssh.ucc.asn.au. There are no charges for using this service (there used to be). However, because of the network connection it uses, it's a bit slow.

FTP access is not available.

For UWA students and staff, another alternative is to use the SNAP VPN. If you can create a PPTP connection to 130.95.11.2 using your SNAP username and password, you're effectively on campus at UWA. (You might want to disable the default gateway on the VPN, otherwise all traffic will go through SNAP and be charged to your UWA account - this setting is in Advanced TCP/IP Properties in Windows.

Please note: the older telnet.ucc.gu.uwa.edu.au service is charged. That is, money will be debited from your Coke account to cover the traffic charges incurred.

I am on a computer without SSH

If you don't have an SSH client on your computer, or you are behind a restrictive firewall, you can use our secure web-based SSH client at secure.ucc.asn.au/login. You will need a reasonably up-to-date web browser with JavaScript enabled.

It's not working, or I don't understand!

Fair enough! E-mail support@ucc with your problems and your current location, and we'll do our best to help.