At IU, can I use FTP or SFTP to access my RFS space?

While you cannot use commonly available, insecure FTP clients (such as Hummingbird FTP) to access the Research File System (RFS) at Indiana University, you can use a secure FTP (SFTP) client to gain SFTP access to the RFS. SFTP clients include the one built into WinSCP for Windows, Cyberduck for Mac OS X, and the Unix sftp command.

Windows

Note: SSH Secure Shell Client for Windows is no longer available for download from IUware or the SSH Communications Security web site. For alternative SSH and SFTP clients, see At IU, what SSH/SFTP clients are supported and where can I get them?

To make an SFTP connection to the RFS in Windows using SSH Secure Shell Client:

1. Click Start and select Programs, then SSH Secure Shell, and finally Secure File Transfer Client. If you are using a different SFTP client or if you moved your SSH Secure Shell folder after installation, launch your client appropriately.

   Note: In the Windows Student Technology Centers (STCs), click Start and select Programs, then Utilities, and finally Secure Shell Client. Once the client launches, find and click the Windows menu at the top, and then choose New File Transfer.

2. In the SFTP client window, click the Connect icon. (In SSH Secure Shell, this looks like a small computer, and if you pause your mouse over it, you will see the word "Connect".)
   
   
3. In the "Host Name:" field, type rfs.iu.edu . In the "User Name:" field, type your username. Click Connect, and supply your password in the dialog box that appears next.
   
   
4. This should place you at the top level in your RFS space. To learn more about using the SFTP client for Windows, see In SSH Secure Shell for Windows, how do I transfer files?

Mac OS X

If you are an IU student, faculty member, or staff member, you can download Cyberduck, an SFTP client for Mac OS X, from IUware Online at:

Note: You must log in with your IU Network ID to download this software.

For instructions on using this software to transfer files, see In Mac OS X, how do I use Cyberduck to transfer files? To connect to the RFS, use the hostname rfs.iu.edu .

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