So I am totally new to linux and have never done anything before with it. I'm taking a class on it though that is required for my degree. So my problem is that I am not being able to get to linux on my mac. I've done some research and have read that I can use my terminal to access linux, so is this correct? I've also read that I'm supposed to put ssh -p (port number) (username)@(ip), so is this correct also? I have my username and ip address but have no idea what to use as a port number. So if anybody could help me out with what to put as a port number I would really appreciate it!

That won't work. If you want to use Linux you have to install it, you can't simply access it from MacOS without installing it. I would recommend to install Linux into a virtual machine, like Virtualbox. This way you don't have to fiddle with partitions and bootloaders and can use both systems at the same time.

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Where would I go to install it? And I can't just access it with a secure shell client? Because I've seen in several places saying that you can do that..

You can't access an operating system that is:
1. Not installed.
2. Not running.

You will be able to access it via SSH once you have it installed and running, for example in a virtual machine or on a second dedicated computer, but not if you are running only MacOS on your computer.

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You go and download a distro from their website, and follow the installation instructions. If you're just starting out, I'd recommend Mint or Ubuntu.
Well, if you didn't own a Mac, could you just 'access' OSX somehow??? An operating system has to be RUNNING somewhere in order to be accessed. So, install it on a virtual machine as suggested, or install it to a different machine.

The ssh command line is simple: ssh <user ID>@<machine address or name>. You don't have to specify the -p option, unless SSH is running on a different port than standard.

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Ok well my professor for the class has a linux server set up and I just need to access it. I guess I thought that would mean that it is running? Or do I still need to install it and have it run on my mac? And then if I install it then I can access it through the terminal?

Ok, did you read what was posted to you?? You can't access it unless it's running somewhere, right??? So in this case, it IS running somewhere, isn't it??

Again, go back to the ssh command line explanation. Go to a terminal window in OSX...type in "ssh <user id>@<machine name/address>". You get both of those from your professor, along with a password. Press ENTER, it'll prompt you for a password, then enter it.

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Would have been a good idea to say that in your first post, don't you think?

Anyways, do like TB0ne explained, that should work. Have fun with Linux.

Ok I got it!! Sorry if all my questions seemed stupid but I know pretty much nothing about this. But thank you for the help!

But another question..once I am into the server I am supposed to use a few different commands and then copy and paste it into a word document to submit to my professor. To use a command do you just type it in? A few of the commands I'm supposed to use are echo, ls, date, $shell, man, whoami, help. When I use date or whoami and help stuff comes up like I think it should, but for the other commands nothing happens. Is there something else I'm supposed to be doing?

Yes, you just type the commands in. As far as what else you should be doing, that's a question you should ask your professor.

Ok well I do that. Thanks again for all the help! And sorry for not full explaining everything in my first post, like I said I don't know anything about linux and am just really confused with everything.

Start here http://rute.2038bug.com/index.html.gz
Incidentally note also that the OSX cmd line (cli) is a version of Unix
(generically *nix), but it's not exactly the same as Linux, so running the cmds locally may not produce the same effect as on the Prof's machine.
To find out what distribution (aka distro) his server is running

1. ask him
2. try
Other useful links
http://linux.die.net/man/
http://tldp.org/LDP/Bash-Beginners-G...tml/index.html


HTH & Welcome to LQ

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