CS department server login

  • Hostname: mars.cs.qc.cuny.edu
  • Username (all lowercase): First 2 letters of your last name, followed by first 2 letters of first name, followed by last 4 digits of CUNYfirst ID. If your name is John Doe and your CUNYfirst ID is 12345678, then your username is dojo5678
  • Password: Your 8 digits of CUNYfirst ID#


  • When you are on QC campus, make sure you sign in to qwifi-secure. qwifi-guest does not allow SSH connection to the server.
  • When you are off QC campus, QC VPN is needed. Instructions on how to setup QC VPN at home:
  • If you have problem with qwifi-secured or setup QC VPN, contact QC Help Desk at https://support.qc.cuny.edu.

Logging onto your linux account using Windows

  • Download and Install SmarTTY.
  • Launch the SmarTTY program. Click New SSH connection.
    Type mars.cs.qc.cuny.edu or 149.4.211.180 in the box labeled Host Name:
    Type your username in the box labeled User Name:
    Type your_password in the box labeled Password:
    Uncheck the checkbox from Setup public key authentication and don't ask for password again.

  • Click Connect button.
  • Click the Save button to save the host key.

  • Click Start with a Regular Terminal or Start with a Smart Termianl as you prefer.

Transfering files between your local computer and linux account

  • Click the button at the bottom of the terminal to dipaly the file list pane if you are using regular terminal. You can drag and drop the file between your local computer and your linux account.


Logging onto your linux account using Mac

  • Open the terminal app from Applications/Utilities folder and type
    ssh your_username@mars.cs.qc.cuny.edu
  • Type yes to continue connecting
  • Type your_password. Nothing will display on your screen when you type your password. Press ENTER after you complete your password entry.

Logging onto your linux account using Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt

  • Click Start menu, type Windows Powershell or cmd to launch Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt and type
    ssh your_username@mars.cs.qc.cuny.edu
  • Type yes to continue connecting
  • Type your_password. Nothing will display on your screen when you type your password. Press ENTER after you complete your password entry.

REMOTE HOST IDENTIFCATION HAS CHANGED!

  • If you see a message "REMOTE HOST IDENTIFCATION HAS CHANGED" that prevents you from login, delete the filename, known_hosts from your home folder in your Mac, type:
  • rm ~/.ssh/known_hosts

Transfering files between your computer (Mac terminal or Windows PowerShell) and your linux account

  • In your Mac terminal / Windows Powershell prompt, use cd command to go to the folder where you have the file to upload/download
    e.g. type: cd Documents
  • sftp your_username@mars.cs.qc.cuny.edu
    To upload a file, e.g. project1.cpp, type
    put project1.cpp
    To download a file, e.g. project1.cpp type
    get project1.cpp

Changing your Linux password

  • passwd