Remote Development Setup for CS @ Kenyon

VS Code + Ubuntu Class Server + GitHub Classroom

This guide walks you through the exact setup we will use in this course.

You will:

  1. Log into the Ubuntu class server using your temporary password
  2. Generate a 4096-bit SSH key on the server
  3. Copy that key to your laptop so VS Code can connect
  4. Install VS Code and configure Remote-SSH
  5. Add the server key to GitHub (trust relationship)
  6. Clone your GitHub Classroom project on the server
  7. Run the server on your assigned port
  8. Verify it in a browser and make a required edit

Do the steps in order.

Server and Port Information

  • Ubuntu class server: 10.192.145.179
  • Initial Linux password: your student ID
  • Your port: 41XX
    (`XX = last two digits of your student ID — there are no duplicates)

Example:
Student ID ends in 07 → port is 4107

Part 1 — Log into the Ubuntu server (first time)

macOS (Terminal)

Open Terminal and run:

ssh yourUsername@10.192.145.179

Windows (PowerShell)

Open PowerShell (or Windows Terminal) and run:

ssh yourUsername@10.192.145.179

When prompted for a password, enter:

your student ID

You should see a prompt like:

yourUsername@ubuntu:~$

From this point on, commands are run on the Ubuntu server, unless stated otherwise.

Part 2 — Generate a 4096-bit SSH key (on the server)

On the Ubuntu server, run:

ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096 -C "your_email@kenyon.edu"

When prompted:

  • File location → press Enter
  • Passphrase → press Enter (recommended for class servers)

Start the SSH agent and load the key:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa

This key will be used for both VS Code Remote-SSH and GitHub.

Part 3 — Copy the server’s public key to your laptop

Still on the Ubuntu server, display your public key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
  • Copy the entire line
  • It starts with ssh-rsa
  • Do not add spaces or line breaks

You will use this key in two places:

  1. VS Code (via SSH)
  2. GitHub (for repository access)

Part 4 — Install VS Code on your laptop

On your laptop:

  1. Go to
    https://code.visualstudio.com/
  2. Install VS Code (macOS or Windows)
  3. Launch VS Code

Part 5 — Set up VS Code Remote-SSH (laptop)

Install the extension

In VS Code:

  • Open Extensions
  • Install Remote – SSH (Microsoft)

Add the server

  1. Press Cmd+Shift+P (macOS) or Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows)
  2. Run: Remote-SSH: Add New SSH Host
  3. Enter:
ssh yourUsername@10.192.145.179
  1. Accept the default SSH config file

Connect

  • Run: Remote-SSH: Connect to Host
  • Choose 10.192.145.179

VS Code opens a new window connected to the server.

Part 6 — Add the SSH key to GitHub (trust relationship)

On your laptop browser:

  1. Log into GitHub
  2. Go to Settings → SSH and GPG keys
  3. Click New SSH key
  4. Title: Kenyon CS Ubuntu Server
  5. Paste the key you copied from id_rsa.pub
  6. Click Add SSH key

Back on the Ubuntu server, test GitHub access:

ssh -T git@github.com

First time only, type:

yes

Success looks like:

Hi <github-username>! You've successfully authenticated.

Part 7 — Accept the Classroom assignment and clone the repo

In your browser, go to:

https://classroom.github.com/a/dyR_3w0A

Accept the assignment.
GitHub will show your personal repo.

On the Ubuntu server:

mkdir -p ~/projects
cd ~/projects
git clone git@github.com:ORG/REPO.git
cd REPO

(Use the SSH URL GitHub gives you.)

Part 8 — Install dependencies and run the server

On the Ubuntu server, inside your repo:

make install
PORT=41XX make dev

Example:

PORT=4107 make dev

Leave this running.

Part 9 — Verify the server in your browser

On your laptop, open:

http://10.192.145.179:41XX

Example:

http://10.192.145.179:4107

You should see the Ghost page.

Part 10 — Required edit: personalize the page

Using VS Code Remote-SSH, open:

public/index.html

Find:

<h1 class="mb-2">Ghost</h1>

Change it to:

<h1 class="mb-2">Ghost - YourLastName</h1>

Save the file, reload the page in your browser, and confirm the change appears.

Common Problems (and fixes)

Page doesn’t load

  • Use http, not https
  • Verify your port is 41XX
  • Make sure make dev is still running

“Permission denied (publickey)” with GitHub

On the server:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"
ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_rsa
ssh -T git@github.com

Git asks for username/password

You cloned with HTTPS. Fix it:

git remote set-url origin git@github.com:ORG/REPO.git

Port already in use

You started the server twice.

ss -ltnp | grep 41

Stop the old one (Ctrl+C).

VS Code Remote-SSH hangs

Test plain SSH first:

ssh yourUsername@10.192.145.179

If that fails, Remote-SSH will not work.

Final Checklist

  • Logged into Ubuntu using student ID
  • Generated 4096-bit RSA key on the server
  • Added the key to GitHub
  • ssh -T git@github.com succeeds
  • Accepted Classroom assignment
  • Repo cloned on the server
  • PORT=41XX make dev runs
  • Page loads at 10.192.145.179:41XX
  • Header shows Ghost – YourLastName
  • VS Code edits files remotely on the server
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