Guide to SSH with VSCode into Curtin Uni Computer Science Labs

Jul 21, 2025

You will need the following:

  • A PC or Mac computer

  • An internet connection

  • Microsoft Visual Studio Code

How to find the instructions for downloading and setting up the VPN software:

  • Access the SupportU Hub, located under Useful links in the My Studies tab on Oasis

  • Search for the instructions by typing VPN in the search bar

  • The knowledge articles for installation of Mac and Windows compatible VPN software are both available

Connecting to the Computer Science (CS) Labs:

To connect to the CS labs, we will have to use SSH (Secure Shell) protocol.
In a terminal we can simply use:
ssh 'StudentID'@'labID'-'PCID'.cs.curtin.edu.au

An example, for COMP3007 I would run ssh 20607591@lab232-a01.cs.curtin.edu.au

Connecting using VSCode:

The first step is to install the extension "Remote Explorer", it should automatically install "Remote - SSH" and "Remote - SSH: Editing Configuration Files" extensions too.

We are almost there! Now to connect to the lab.

  1. Open the Remote Explorer tab

  2. Add a new remote:

    1. Click the "New Remote" button on the SSH bar

    2. Enter your SSH line (for me ssh 20607591@lab232-a01.cs.curtin.edu.au)

    3. Select default config location (for me C:\Users\harry\.ssh\config)

    4. Tada! The extension will automatically update your config file

  3. Connect to the remote:

    1. Click the "Connect in Current Window" or "Connect in New Window" on the Remote bar

    2. You will be prompted to select the platform of the remote - Select Linux from the dropdown

    3. It will provide the fingerprint of the SSH connection - select continue

    4. You will be prompted to enter your password - do so

  4. You should be connected! At this stage I would clone a git repo (Eg. This one)

Next time you go to connect you will have to re-enter your password but that is all, you will also be presented with windows you have previously opened with this address (eg your cloned repo)

Sometimes issues:

  1. Sometimes the password prompt is weird, you can also click on the "details" in the bottom right corner to open the connection terminal and enter your password there. You will likely then be prompted again to enter your password in a dialog box.

If you encounter any issues or just need more help feel free to reach out!
My email is 20607591@student.curtin.edu.au

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