Before the workshop, it is recommended to install or locate a terminal application on with ssh. Though installation help will be provided at the workshop, we recommend that these tools are installed (or at least downloaded) beforehand.
Bash and SSH
This lesson requires a terminal application (
bash,zsh, or others) with the ability to securely connect to a remote machine (ssh).
Where to Type Commands: How to Open a New Shell
The shell is a program that enables us to send commands to the computer and receive output. It is also referred to as the terminal or command line.
Some computers include a default Unix Shell program. The steps below describe some methods for identifying and opening a Unix Shell program if you already have one installed. There are also options for identifying and downloading a Unix Shell program, a Linux/UNIX emulator, or a program to access a Unix Shell on a server.
Unix Shells on Windows
Computers with Windows operating systems do not automatically have a Unix Shell program installed. We recommend using MobaXterm Home Edition for this lesson as it can be used to run local shell commands and access the cluster via ssh.
Unix Shell on macOS
On macOS, the default Unix Shell is accessible by running the Terminal program
from the /Application/Utilities folder in Finder.
To open Terminal, try one or both of the following:
- In Finder, select the Go menu, then select Utilities. Locate Terminal in the Utilities folder and open it.
- Use the Mac ‘Spotlight’ computer search function (using Command +
Space). Search for:
Terminaland press Return.
For an introduction, see How to Use Terminal on a Mac.
Unix Shell on Linux
On most versions of Linux, the default Unix Shell is accessible by running the (Gnome) Terminal or (KDE) Konsole or xterm, which can be found via the applications menu or the search bar.
Special Cases
If none of the options above address your circumstances, try an online search
for: Unix shell [your operating system].