Remote Connection to a Linux Computer

You can connect to various Linux computers on campus remotely by utilizing Secure Shell (SSH). MacOS and most Linux distributions will already have an SSH Client and on Windows; we suggest you use PuTTY. When you are connected to the remote server; you are in your H:/Home drive root directory. 

The university provides two primary servers for connecting remotely: 

• guardian.it.mtu.edu (updates preview)
• colossus.it.mtu.edu

Note: If you are trying to connect to an on-campus Linux computer, you will first need to connect to either guardian.it.mtu.edu or colossus.it.mtu.edu, if you are off-campus. Then, in the same terminal window, you can ssh into the other on-campus computer.

Connecting from MacOS/Linux

1. Open a terminal. Enter the following command, using your Michigan Tech account name:
   ssh accountname@guardian.it.mtu.edu
2. Accept the host key if prompted. 
3. Enter your Michigan Tech password.
4. Hit the Enter key.

Connecting from Windows

1. Open an ssh client, such as PuTTY.
2. Enter guardian.it.mtu.edu for the hostname.
3. Select the Open button.
4. Accept the host key if prompted.
5. Enter your Michigan Tech account name at the login as: prompt.
6. Enter your Michigan Tech password at the accountname@guardian.it.mtu.edu's password: prompt.