In order to access an HCS group account to read email and begin setting up webpages, you will need to connect via a terminal into our servers. On most modern operating systems, this requires a terminal application. If you are using Mac OS X, you already have one: it's under Applications>Utilities>Terminal.app. On a Windows computer, you will need something like SecureCRT, which you can get from FAS Computing for free; putty also works great.

Logging into HCS is done without passwords, so you don't need to remember anything; instead we have you log into the FAS servers first, and then if you are on the access list for one of our accounts you can then login from FAS to HCS.

Using a Mac

Open Terminal.app. At the command prompt, type ssh username@fas.harvard.edu, where username is whatever you use for FAS services. The very first time you try to connect to FAS in this manner, you will be asked a security question about host keys. Respond by typing "yes" (without the quotes). This will only be asked of you once, ever. You will then need to provide your FAS password.

A load of text will fly by, and then you receive the fas% prompt. Type ssh group-name@hcs.harvard.edu, where group-name is the account you made with HCS. Again, you may be asked about host keys if this is your first login, and respond "yes". Assuming you are on the access list for the account, you will be logged straight in.

You will then be at the hera:~% prompt, at which you can do any number of things: check out the tutorial if you're lost.

Using a PC

We'll be using the version of SecureCRT available from the FASCS website. Once you have it installed and opened for the first time, you be presented with the connection dialog.

Double-click on fas.harvard.edu to initiate a connection with FAS. Most likely, it will ask about host keys, because this is your first time connecting. Select Accept & Save.

Enter in your FAS username (the same as your FAS email, before the @ sign) when prompted. Whether you choose to save it or not is up to you. Select OK.

Then, enter in your FAS password at the next prompt, and select OK.

If you entered in the wrong password, it will re-prompt you, otherwise a lot of login messages will scroll by and you will be eventually presented with a prompt. Enter in the following at the prompt and press enter, replacing group-name with the name of your HCS account.

Again, since this is your first connection, it will probably ask about host keys, with a message like this:

The authenticity of host 'hcs.harvard.edu (140.247.73.248)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is e2:23:24:df:37:12:f8:a6:dc:54:80:31:9e:c9:ff:39.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)?

Type "yes" (without the quotes) and press enter to continue. If you are on the access list for that account, you will be logged directly in, and then at the hera:~% prompt you can begin working on your account. To find out what you can do at the prompt, go to the next tutorial.