How to Move Files Between Your PC and Your bama Account

If you are using a Macintosh instead of a PC, you need the document "How to Move Files Between Your Macintosh and Your bama Account".

Download and Install Secure Shell (SSH)

Secure Shell (SSH) is a program used to copy files and directories between a PC and a remote machine. For most people on campus, this remote machine will be bama.ua.edu. You may use this to store files or publish a Web site, among other things.

Go to the next section if this icon is on your desktop: .

Do a quick glance through your Start Menu for SSH Secure Shell. If you find it, go to the next section.

Go to the Start button, click Find, then choose Files or Folders. Search for "sftp2.exe" (without the quotes). If you find it, go to the next section.

Go to the SFTP Clients page in the Software Library for a link to download the SFTP program and further installation instructions. Follow the instructions, then come back to this page.

Set up Your bama Account for FTP Access

You must use a computer on the University network to do this step or connect from off of campus using the VPN (see instructions). This includes computers in University offices or labs and those on ResNet. This does not include home computers connected to the Internet through AOL, or another outside service provider; computers on DSL lines; or computers using cable modem connections.

As a security measures, bama accounts are not automatically given FTP access. This is to prevent outside people "hacking" into unused accounts. However, you can easily give your own account FTP access.

Go to the "Change bama Shell" Web helper. Fill in the same user name and password you use on the myBama Web site, then make sure that either ftp-only or one of the "interactive" shells (ksh ,sh ,bash ,csh , or tcsh) is chosen. Most people will want ftp-only; for more information see Your Account Shell. After you have filled out the form, click the Change Shell button.

Make sure you read the message that is returned. It will tell you whether or not your shell change was successful. Some people may need to change their passwords before they are allowed to change their shells. (If you receive this message, it is probably because your account has been unused for a significant period of time. If you have a question about this policy, please call the HelpDesk at 348-HELP.)

Connect to bama

Start the SSH program and click the enter key or the space bar to open the Connect to Remote Host window. You could also click on the Quick Connect icon on the toolbar (shown below).

ssh Window

Fill in bama.ua.edu as the host name and your bama account user name in the Connect to Remote Host window. You can leave the port number at 22 and the Authentication Method at Password. Click Connect and you may receive several warning windows about the host identification such as the following:

Identification key warning image

Click "Yes" to save the new host key to the local database. You then get the following window in which you enter your Password:

Enter Password window image

One of the major benefits of SSH is the ability to create profiles. These profiles allow you to save settings for secure FTP tasks you do often. Once you fill in the user name (your bama account user name) and host name (bama.ua.edu) in the Connect to Remote Host window, you are prompted to save the current profile, which is then added to the Profiles drop down list.

Add Profile window image

At any time, you can edit a profile by clicking on the Profiles drop down list.

Profiles menu image

Once you connect, the left side of the window shows the directory structure of the remote host computer. Folders that have a plus sign (+) next to them can be opened by clicking on the plus sign. Open folders have a minus sign (-) next to them and can be closed by clicking on the minus sign.

SSH File Transfer window image

You can click on a folder to view its contents on the right hand side pane of the File Transfer window. The displayed folder shows up highlighted on the folder view.

NOTE: If you get a message stating that you had an invalid login and are unable to connect to your bama account, you probably either typed in your password incorrectly or did not set up FTP access on your account. Go back to the previous step, or come to the HelpDesk in 125 Gordon Palmer for assistance or call the HelpDesk at 348-HELP (4357).

Decide the Transfer Method for Your Files

The next area you should look at is on the toolbar where you specify the type of file you are transfering. There are three choices:

ASCII: text files, including HTML and raw data files
Binary: pictures, Office documents, and other non-text files
Auto: automatically determined for you

SSH will automatically determine which files are ASCII and which are binary if the "Auto" icon is selected (and it is selected by default).

Auto icon image

All files are then sent as binary except those that have extensions that SSH knows are ASCII.

Transfer Your Files

First, navigate to the directory (folder) on the left side that you need to put files into or copy files from. To go up one level, click on the icon. If you are publishing a Web site, navigate to your bama account's public_html folder.

To copy a file or files from your PC to bama:

Click on the Upload arrow on the toolbar.
Browse to the file location and select it.
Then click the Upload button.
You can also drag and drop to upload. Dragging and dropping is probably the easiest way to upload files. Simply click on the local file(s) you want to upload, hold down the mouse button, move the file(s) into the File Transfer window's file view (on the right side of the transfer window) and release the button. Make sure you are in the right folder before you do this.

To copy a file or files from bama to your PC:

Select the remote folder with the files you want to copy to your PC by clicking on it in the left side of the transfer window.
Highlight the file(s) on the right hand side (remote) that you would like to copy. To select multiple files, hold down the Shift or Control keys when selecting files with the mouse. If you hold down the Shift key, all the files and folders between the first and last selection will be selected. If you hold down the Control key, you can select individual files and folders one by one.
Press the Download arrow (as shown below).

In the Download Select Folder window that opens, browse to the location you want to download to and click on the download button.

You can also drag and drop files. Dragging and dropping is probably the easiest way to download files. Simply click on the file(s) you want to download, hold down the mouse button and move the file to a location where you want it, for example on the Windows desktop, and release the button.

When you are finished, press the Disconnect icon to log off, and the Exit button to close the program.

Download and Install SSH Set up Your bama Account for FTP Access Connect to bama Decide the Transfer Method for Your Files Transfer Your Files		Search:

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	How to Move Files Between Your PC and Your bama Account If you are using a Macintosh instead of a PC, you need the document "How to Move Files Between Your Macintosh and Your bama Account". Download and Install Secure Shell (SSH) Secure Shell (SSH) is a program used to copy files and directories between a PC and a remote machine. For most people on campus, this remote machine will be bama.ua.edu. You may use this to store files or publish a Web site, among other things. Go to the next section if this icon is on your desktop: . Do a quick glance through your Start Menu for SSH Secure Shell. If you find it, go to the next section. Go to the Start button, click Find, then choose Files or Folders. Search for "sftp2.exe" (without the quotes). If you find it, go to the next section. Go to the SFTP Clients page in the Software Library for a link to download the SFTP program and further installation instructions. Follow the instructions, then come back to this page. Set up Your bama Account for FTP Access You must use a computer on the University network to do this step or connect from off of campus using the VPN (see instructions). This includes computers in University offices or labs and those on ResNet. This does not include home computers connected to the Internet through AOL, or another outside service provider; computers on DSL lines; or computers using cable modem connections. As a security measures, bama accounts are not automatically given FTP access. This is to prevent outside people "hacking" into unused accounts. However, you can easily give your own account FTP access. Go to the "Change bama Shell" Web helper. Fill in the same user name and password you use on the myBama Web site, then make sure that either ftp-only or one of the "interactive" shells (ksh ,sh ,bash ,csh , or tcsh) is chosen. Most people will want ftp-only; for more information see Your Account Shell. After you have filled out the form, click the Change Shell button. Make sure you read the message that is returned. It will tell you whether or not your shell change was successful. Some people may need to change their passwords before they are allowed to change their shells. (If you receive this message, it is probably because your account has been unused for a significant period of time. If you have a question about this policy, please call the HelpDesk at 348-HELP.) Connect to bama Start the SSH program and click the enter key or the space bar to open the Connect to Remote Host window. You could also click on the Quick Connect icon on the toolbar (shown below). Fill in bama.ua.edu as the host name and your bama account user name in the Connect to Remote Host window. You can leave the port number at 22 and the Authentication Method at Password. Click Connect and you may receive several warning windows about the host identification such as the following: Click "Yes" to save the new host key to the local database. You then get the following window in which you enter your Password: One of the major benefits of SSH is the ability to create profiles. These profiles allow you to save settings for secure FTP tasks you do often. Once you fill in the user name (your bama account user name) and host name (bama.ua.edu) in the Connect to Remote Host window, you are prompted to save the current profile, which is then added to the Profiles drop down list. At any time, you can edit a profile by clicking on the Profiles drop down list. Once you connect, the left side of the window shows the directory structure of the remote host computer. Folders that have a plus sign (+) next to them can be opened by clicking on the plus sign. Open folders have a minus sign (-) next to them and can be closed by clicking on the minus sign. You can click on a folder to view its contents on the right hand side pane of the File Transfer window. The displayed folder shows up highlighted on the folder view. NOTE: If you get a message stating that you had an invalid login and are unable to connect to your bama account, you probably either typed in your password incorrectly or did not set up FTP access on your account. Go back to the previous step, or come to the HelpDesk in 125 Gordon Palmer for assistance or call the HelpDesk at 348-HELP (4357). Decide the Transfer Method for Your Files The next area you should look at is on the toolbar where you specify the type of file you are transfering. There are three choices: ASCII: text files, including HTML and raw data files Binary: pictures, Office documents, and other non-text files Auto: automatically determined for you SSH will automatically determine which files are ASCII and which are binary if the "Auto" icon is selected (and it is selected by default). All files are then sent as binary except those that have extensions that SSH knows are ASCII. Transfer Your Files First, navigate to the directory (folder) on the left side that you need to put files into or copy files from. To go up one level, click on the icon. If you are publishing a Web site, navigate to your bama account's public_html folder. To copy a file or files from your PC to bama: Click on the Upload arrow on the toolbar. Browse to the file location and select it. Then click the Upload button. You can also drag and drop to upload. Dragging and dropping is probably the easiest way to upload files. Simply click on the local file(s) you want to upload, hold down the mouse button, move the file(s) into the File Transfer window's file view (on the right side of the transfer window) and release the button. Make sure you are in the right folder before you do this. To copy a file or files from bama to your PC: Select the remote folder with the files you want to copy to your PC by clicking on it in the left side of the transfer window. Highlight the file(s) on the right hand side (remote) that you would like to copy. To select multiple files, hold down the Shift or Control keys when selecting files with the mouse. If you hold down the Shift key, all the files and folders between the first and last selection will be selected. If you hold down the Control key, you can select individual files and folders one by one. Press the Download arrow (as shown below). In the Download Select Folder window that opens, browse to the location you want to download to and click on the download button. You can also drag and drop files. Dragging and dropping is probably the easiest way to download files. Simply click on the file(s) you want to download, hold down the mouse button and move the file to a location where you want it, for example on the Windows desktop, and release the button. When you are finished, press the Disconnect icon to log off, and the Exit button to close the program.
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