Notes for Windows users

Windows is not a UNIX or UNIX-like operating system, so there are extra steps to interfacing a Windows computer with our servers.

You have a few options for software to enable this kind of connection. The best way to do things if you just need SSH is to simply open Windows Terminal/PowerShell. This now includes OpenSSH by default, so you can run the same commands to connect to our servers as Unix users. The other instructions below are included for reference if you want or need to connect in some other way for some reason.

WSL

Follow these instructions first; if that doesn't work, check below. If you encounter errors, start by following the instructions in the documentation that the error messages link to.

The preferred option is to install Ubuntu subsystem for Windows on Windows 10 or later. Here are the instructions:

1. Click Start and search for Developer mode. Click the first option ("Use developer features") and check enable developer mode.
2. NOTE: It will ask you to restart your computer during this step, so be sure to save your work first. Run the Windows PowerShell (Terminal) in admin mode (right-click Start and select the option). Then copy the following and paste it in and hit Enter:
   
   Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
   
   Type 'Y' and press Enter when it asks you to restart.
3. Go to Microsoft Store and install Ubuntu (just plain Ubuntu).
   1. When you enter your password, it will not show asterisks or dots. It will appear that you are not typing. In fact, you are. Enter your password carefully (twice) and it will behave as expected.
   2. When you see USERNAME@DESKTOP-RANDOMNUMBERSANDLETTERS, you're done.
   3. To enable copy and paste via Ctrl+Shift+V

Some quirks of interfacing Windows with Linux:

• It's common for a Linux operating system to appear to mount the main Windows filesystem under /drives, usually /drives/c/.
• Within /drives/c, directories and filenames observe such Windows conventions as capitalizing (e.g.) "Users" and "Documents".
• If you're in a Linux environment, the Windows "\" becomes a Linux "/".

Alternatives

MobaXterm and Putty are other options.

(Keyword spam: PC, shell, WSL)

X applications on Windows

You may only need X forwarding, not a full local Linux command line. If that's you, see our page about X apps for this setup.

Tested and working 2023