SSH Tunneling Under Windows

How do I set up SSH tunneling on the PC?

  • Download SSH Client 3.x from the DoIT Softweb Portal
  • If you need to send email via smtp (recommended for roaming laptop users), a pop3 Client like Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Netscape or Eudora
  • If you need X11, a windows based X11 server (X-Win32, also available on the downloads area of our Services via Secure Sign On
  1. Start the ssh client application and click on Profiles/Add Profile... (Alternately, you can go to File/Profiles/Add Profile...)
  2. Let's call it compserv1 - foopass. You can replace foopass with your department username.
  3. Now we have to edit this profile. Click on Profiles/Edit Profiles... (Alternately, you can go to File/Profiles/Edit Profile...) and select the profile we just created. In this case it is compserv1 - foopass. Fill out the Host Name (compserv1.cs.sunysb.edu) and User name (foopass)
  4. Click Ok. Do not go to the next step before clicking Ok. Settings will not be saved otherwise. Next Click on Profiles/Edit Profiles... (Alternately, you can go to File/Profiles/Edit Profile...) and select the profile we just created again i.e. compserv1 - foopass.
  5. Click on the Tunneling Tab. If you want to tunnel X11 connections, enable Tunnel X11 Connections as shown below . If you do not want to tunnel your outgoing smtp mail, you can click Ok and then press enter to initiate a connection. 
  6. Click on the Add button and fill out the information as shown below. Click Ok when you are finished. 
  7. The Tunneling tab should finally look like this. Click Ok.
  8. In order to get the X11 tunneling / SMTP to work, you HAVE TO SELECT THIS PROFILE.

Important Points to remember

If using SMTP tunneling

  • You have to connect using the profile created above, before starting the pop3 client (your email application).
  • Your outgoing smtp server is localhost.

If using X11 tunneling

  • You have to start the X11 based windows server in order for you to view X11 apps.
  • You do not have the set the environment variable DISPLAY when you use X11 tunneling. The ssh client automatically sets that for you. You can verify this by echo $DISPLAY. You should get something like machine:x.y. For example, compserv1:13.0.