Using the SSH-FS plugin for VS Code¶
The easiest way to access the CSE servers using VS Code is to use the ‘SSH FS’ plugin.
The ‘Remote-SSH’ plugin can fill up your account and slow down the server, so use this one instead.
Installing the plugin¶
Go to the Extensions button:
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Type ‘ssh fs’ into the search box:
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And hit ‘Install’ on the match that comes up.
Creating a new configuration¶
You will now have an SSH-FS tab on the left-hand toolbar.
Click it to see a list of SSH configurations on your machine:
The list will be empty, so click the create button to make a new one:
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Enter a name for the new config – I’ve used ‘cse’ here, but you can call it whatever you like.
Then hit ‘save’ to move to the next step.
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Now you need to enter the details for your username and login server.
Enter your zID in the ‘Username’ box, and enter ~ for the Root.
For the Host, enter loginX.cse.unsw.edu.au, whereX is the last digit of your ziD.
For example, if your zID is z1234567, use login7.cse.unsw.edu.au
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Scroll down to the bottom of the list, and click ‘Save’ to finish:
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Connecting to the server¶
Your new configuration will now show up in the list:
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Click the ‘Add as workspace folder’ button:
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You will be prompted to enter your password – use your zPass for this:
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Your CSE home directory will now show up in your workspace:
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Go back to the SSH-FS tab, and click the terminal button:
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And a terminal will open on the login server, in your home directory:
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Changing the start directory¶
If you want your workspace to start in a subfolder – maybe you have a Work directory you keep all your work in – then you can change the Root path in your SSH configuration to match.
Go back to the configuration list, and hit the Edit Configuration button:
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You can then edit the Root path to any directory you want – then scroll down and hit Save.
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Note
You can also create a second connection if you want – for instance, to have a separate workspace in /tmp, to see the temporary files your code creates.
Just create a new configuration – maybe called cse-tmp – and put /tmp in the Root box.
Now you can open up workspaces or terminals for that connection, and they’ll start in the right folder.