FAQ

From Jan Prunk
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This is the section for FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Most probably it contains the answer to your question. If you would like to ask the question, please use the FAQ/Discussion page, thank you ! Don't forget to register your nickname on the wiki before doing that !

Contents

Can I get a shell without sending a postcard ?

Yes you can, if you donate money or hardware.

How often must I use my shell account ?

You should use your shell account regularly. They are valid for unlimited period. But the minimum time to use it is once in 6 months. You need to log into the shell account over ssh, to register the connection. Unused accounts get deleted out of the system, and to re-activate them you will need to donate again.

How can I connect to the shell server, after I receive my login and password ?

Establishing a connection via Microsoft Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or Vista

You will need to install a terminal emulator program, which is capable to establish a Secure shell (ssh) connection with the shell server. There is NO such default program in Microsoft Windows. I suggest that you use putty, which can be downloaded from the official website or one of its mirrors.

The current version from this writing is 0.60, download it here. (if you have Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP or Vista)

When the application starts you will need to enter:

  • Hostname or IP address: The name of the server you are connecting to for example abba.mtveurope.org
  • Port: Not a default one, should be changed to 443 or 422
  • Connection type: Should be ssh

When you will connect for the first time, the program will ask you to accept ssh key, you answer YES, then you enter your username and password which will not be seen when you type it, becouse of the security.

Establishing the connection via Linux/Unix

If your system is Linux/Unix then you will need to install a Secure shell (ssh) package.

Then you simply write:

ssh -l <your_username> -p <port_number> <server_name>

For example:

ssh -l johndoe -p 443 abba.mtveurope.org

You will need to confirm accept the ssh key at first time, and then enter your password (it is not getting displayed becouse of security).

How do I start using the shell account (Cheatsheets) ?

There is an excellent Debian specific newbie guide, located at Newbie doc, please read it !

If you are new to GNU/Linux, then you need a guide which will teach you how to work with the system. You can read the starter guide on one of these 3 links:

You can find some great online assistance on these IRC channels:

  • irc.osirc.org , channel #shells
  • irc.freenode.net , channel ##linux
  • irc.freenode.net , channel #netbsd
  • irc.oftc.net , channel #debian

How to choose the right password ?

A good password for your shell is very important. It must be hard to guess with the tools for cracking passwords. I suggest a password which contains letters and numbers and it is not a word which is available in the dictionary. Avoid having your Name/Surname for the password. It must be at least 8 characters long. You can substitute letters with the numbers so the word "Potato" becomes "P0t4t0". Example of a good password would be : "Som3th1n6" or "xx44us3r-nam3".You can change your old password with the command "passwd".

How can I edit files - which editor

I can suggest 2 standard editors. There is a simplified editor called the Gnu Nano (Improved pico editor) and editor with multiple functions for experienced users called Vi(m).

Check this manual for Gnu Nano:

Check these 2 online Vim manuals :

SSH Section

What are the RSA/DSA public keys from the server (verification) ?

You can check that with command:

ssh-keygen -l -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_dsa_key
ssh-keygen -l -f /etc/ssh/ssh_host_rsa_key

abba(platinum).mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) 46:ec:3a:d6:9f:a3:93:91:3a:90:dd:fe:24:89:a6:06
1024 (DSA) 97:bf:4e:2f:3a:e0:0b:68:51:d0:a7:10:df:46:b7:76

baccara.mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) 18:f2:1b:1e:42:3e:92:be:d9:d1:f7:a5:fe:77:98:ff
1024 (DSA) 24:ba:8f:0a:b6:8c:62:2b:08:98:54:c3:c2:4c:2b:8c

beegees(golden).mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) d4:ce:69:c0:a1:1b:c5:8d:ce:df:08:d8:2a:66:ee:b5
1024 (DSA) d0:4b:a3:da:5e:74:4a:87:2c:33:b3:ff:9e:e7:4e:0b

boneym(uranus).mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) 3c:b7:3e:41:22:f3:9b:c7:54:c4:30:90:17:85:85:58
1024 (DSA) 77:e7:d2:f6:0c:40:ce:43:bd:11:e5:c3:a7:31:f9:e6

direkt.mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) eb:66:40:00:b6:94:3f:09:7e:d7:de:e5:98:ba:b3:de
1024 (DSA) ee:1a:23:3a:94:36:2c:aa:07:ea:70:49:fe:6c:5f:8b

gnu.mtveurope.org

2048 (RSA) ab:b8:5b:97:63:b3:11:7c:51:57:6f:3d:0d:c7:0e:95
1024 (DSA) 83:ad:36:c3:91:7e:85:d5:cb:8c:a9:af:ed:8b:3e:35

shells.mtveurope.org (ottawan)

4096 (RSA) e0:f5:95:d1:97:80:ea:b7:2b:d6:21:3d:46:17:06:0a
1024 (DSA) fc:c0:b8:c1:e9:ad:f8:39:bd:9c:2e:40:b9:22:32:1a
1024 (OLD RSA) 65:28:6a:c9:20:22:a7:d7:59:dd:38:a2:56:58:63:5d (until 5 Jan 2009)

shells.mtveurope.org (abba)

2048 (RSA) d8:7d:9b:9d:bc:9e:b7:af:bf:61:cc:d8:98:9b:ad:ff
1024 (DSA) 7b:a7:ce:ff:49:74:53:38:78:32:cf:b6:80:99:47:c2

How to connect to shell server without typing the password

If your SSH client supports private key authentication, you can avoid typing in your password each time you connect.

Linux

If you are connecting from a Linux machine, follow the manual described on these 2 pages:

Windows

If you are using PuTTY in Windows, use puttygen.exe to generate a public / private key pair. As follows is an abbreviated guideline of steps to follow:

  1. Connect to the shell as usual, performing the typical keyboard-interactive authentication.
  2. Launch puttygen.exe. It's usually in c:\Program Files\PuTTY\
  3. After you have clicked Generate and have generated some randomness, save your private key to My Documents.
  4. Select all / copy the public key from the text area aptly labeled, "Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized_keys file."
  5. Go back to your open shell session. Type the following commands:
    cd .ssh/
    nano -w authorized_keys
  6. With nano running, right-click to paste your public key. Hit Ctrl-X and save the file.
  7. Make sure your .ssh directory has the appropriate permissions by typing the following:
    cd
    chmod 700 .ssh
    chmod 600 .ssh/*
  8. Click the icon on the left corner of your PuTTY window's titlebar, and go to New Session...
  9. Load (but don't open) your saved session for your shell connection.
  10. Ensure that the Host Name (or IP address) field supplies your username. For example: user@criten.mtveurope.org
  11. In the left navigation tree, go to Connection → SSH → Auth. Browse to the private key file you saved in your My Documents.
  12. Navigate back to Session and re-save this connection entry.
  13. Click Open, and enjoy!

For more information, see Chapter 8 of PuTTY's documentation, "Using Public Keys for SSH Authentication." Countless other examples and tutorials can be found by searching Google as well.

How to create and use a tunnel over ssh ?

Check this manual.

IRC section

How do I use IRC client in my shell ?

There is an IRC console program installed, called irssi. The startup documentation is available from the official website or in a simplified manual.

How do I run IRC in the background ?

If you would like to run an IRC client in the background on the shell, you need to do the following:

Type "screen" to start the screen program. Type "irssi" or "BitchX" to start the IRC client. Detach the screen session by typing the control sequence "Ctrl+a+d". Now your IRC client runs in the background. To resume screen type "screen -r" on the shell. And you are back in the screen again. To open additional screens inside the screen program, type "Ctrl+a+c". To switch between those screens type "Ctrl+a+n".

Additional program that works with your mIRC client and stays in the background is a program called Bouncer - "psyBNC". You can get it from psybnc website. To compile "psyBNC" run "make" in the psyBNC directory. Notice that psyBNC has many bugs in their code and it requires to be restarted about once every few days...

How do I setup Eggdrop bot ?

Check the Eggdrop tutorial.

How can I make my own website

You should place all your .html/.php files into your $HOME/public_html directory and you will see your files available at the address http://uranus.mtveurope.org/~username (change to your actual username that you have).

How do I connect to multiple IRC servers within one irssi client ?

You start in the main window /win 1 .Type /connect irc.server.net to add several servers. Then type CTRL + x in the main window to switch between the servers. You can /join #channel and it will bring you to different channels, based on server selection. Then simply use CTRL + n to switch between channels.

How do I connect to IRC over a secure connection

The instructions on how to connect to OFTC network using SSL connection and CAcert certificates and automatical identifying can be found here.

How to setup an IRC bouncer ?

You cannot setup psyBNC on free shell, becouse it requires Gnu C compiler (gcc). You need to donate and gain access to a shell with compiler. I suggest that you don't use psyBNC, becouse of lots of bugs in its code. It causes the psyBNC to freeze on random point every 2-3 days, leaving your connection frozen and you cannot re-attach the session untill you restart it. Use ZNC instead, here is a good manual on how to get ZNC running.

You have K-line on IRC server

MTVeurope shells doesn't deal with K-line removals. If we are K-lined on some server, you should contact the IRC operator of that network, where you want to connect to. Some operators have very strict rules, and they allow maximum 1-2 connections from the same machine on their network. If you are unable to resolve the K-line with them, you can always connect to a different IRC network, there exist over 1000 known IRC networks.

The rest

mutt configuration file

User bleezy submited this link to me. It is a mutt configuration file builder for the mutt email reader.

I have a question, how can I contact you ?

There is a chance that you will be answered instantly if you join the IRC channel #shells on irc.osirc.org .

  • If nobody answers you, you can write an email to janprunk NOSPAM AT gmail DOT com .
  • Remove the word NOSPAM and replace AT with @ and DOT with . and remove all the spaces in between to get a functional e-mail address.
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