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You need to set up a public-private key pair. This is usually done using ssh-keygen![]() | ||||||||
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Connect to the mail server |
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Alpine without a passwordHow to use SSH and Alpine so that you don't have to type in a password when you start your Alpine session. Alpine![]() alpine main menu type "S", then "C", then move the cursor down to the inbox-path option, and type:
{mail.nevis.columbia.edu/ssl/novalidate-cert/user=????}inbox...where '????' should be replaced by your account name. Note the use of curly brackets (they're not parentheses). There is a problem with this configuration: you must type in your password every time you start alpine , in order to confirm your account with the mail server. Even though your password is encrypted with the SSL connection, you may not want to go through the trouble of typing it in.
There is a way around this, but it requires you to use ssh![]() Generate a keyYou need to set up a public-private key pair. This is usually done using ssh-keygen![]()
Connect to the mail serverOnce you've got your keys in the right place, test the connection by typing:ssh mail.nevis.columbia.edu /usr/sbin/imapdfrom a shell prompt on your Alpine machine. You will have to accept authenticity of the RSA key. It should then connect without requiring a password. You should see a message that begins with the text PREAUTH . Type Control-D to get out of the imapd program.
If it does require a password, then your keys aren't set up right.
Configure alpineFinally, set youralpine inbox to be:
{mail.nevis.columbia.edu}inbox(In theory, you would also have to set up the SSH command in Alpine. This is not necessary on the Linux cluster; I've set this up for you in the file /etc/pine.conf .)
After going through this procedure, when you start up alpine , you should simply be connected to the mail server without typing a password. |