Many services of the ZDV can only be used within the university network. If your computer is located outside the university network, you can connect it to the university network with VPN ("Virtual Private Network") and thus use most of the services of the ZDV.
Continue reading "VPN-Access into the Uni Network under macOS"
Due to an increased demand regarding the availability of Linux computers usable for courses, a Linux operating system (ZDV Linux Desktop), which may be started as an alternative operating system on our course room computers, has now been made available in course rooms 3 and 4.
This has been signposted on the doors of course rooms 3 and 4. Documentations about starting the course room computers using Linux, as well as about shutting down Linux and restarting the computers using Windows, are to be found on the walls of these rooms (in German and English), as well as on the following web site:
→ https://www.en-zdv.uni-mainz.de/linux-within-the-course-rooms/
In case you are interested in using Linux as an alternative operating system in other course or pool rooms, please, contact our helpdesk:
Hotline/Helpdesk of the Data Center
Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 21
Tel.: 06131 39-2 63 16
E-Mail | Homepage
Monday until Friday from 9.00 until 18.00
→ Floor plan
More news from the Data Center → may be found here.
From January 14th, 2020, there will be no more security updates by Microsoft for Windows 7 SP1. Therefore, the data center's support for Windows 7 will also cease.
Please plan in good time for an update to a version of the operating system that is still supported, or a new installation. Since time and effort for this is generally substantial, especially for notebooks, you are advised to plan for this early enough.
If you need any support for upgrades, please contact our hotline/helpdesk.
More news from the Data Center → may be found here.
SSH keys can be used to authenticate a SSH connection. Using a ssh key is considered more secure than password authentication.
Any ssh key is always a key pair of a private and a public key.
The public key ends with *.pub and may be shared with other computers. If the publick key is added to another computer, you can use your private key to authenticate yourself there.
Do not pass your private key to anyone.
You will be asked where to save your key. It is recommended to use the default path. You may just press Enter.
Next, you will be asked for a password to encrypt your private key. Enter a password, press Enter and confirm your password. Press Enter again.
Your keys are stored inside your home folder inside a folder called .ssh. The names are id_rsa (private key) and id_rsa.pub (public key).
SSH key authentication will now be used by default, if your public key was deployed at the computer you want to log on to.
Open Puttygen.
Change the 'numbers of bits generated' to 4096 (written in 2017).
Click on Generate.
Move your mouse over the blank area. If you move your mouse, the progress bar will move forward.
Once the key is generated you can protect it with a password. Enter you password inside the key passphrase field and confirm it.
To create a key which includes your name and e-mail address enter your name, family name, e-mail separated by a , into the Key comment field. This allows an association between the key and you as a person.
Click Save public key to save your public key and Save private key to save your private key.
It's important to remember where you saved your keys.
To authenticate with an SSH key, your public key must be added to the remote computer.
You need to add your SSH key to your connection. Navigate to
Connection/SSH/Auth in the left menu. Click on Browse and select your private key:
If you establish a connection, you will be asked for your private key password.
There is a downside to this method: every time you establish a connection, you will be asked for your private key password. To avoid entering your password each time you make a connection, you may use a software called Pageant. Pageant is part of the Putty installation.
Open Pageant. You will see a tray icon:
Doubleclick on this icon. A new window will open:
You need to add your private key here. Click on Add Key and choose your private key.
You will be asked for your private key password.
After you entered your password, your key should appear inside the window:
As long as Pageant is running, you do not need to add your private key to Putty. If you establish a connection, your SSH key will be used automatically.
If you close Pageant, all added keys will be deleted and will then need to be added manually each time you open Pageant again. However, there is a way to load your key whenever Pageant is started.
To do so, create a Pageant shortcut. Right click the shortcut and select properties.
You need to change the target line:
Add a space behind the existing line and then add "the path to your private key". It's important that you use the "" symbols.
If you start Pageant using this shortcut, your private key will be loaded automatically and you just have to enter your password once.
Establishing a WLAN connection using the wireless network of the university of Mainz (documentation to follow),
Establishing a WLAN connection using eduroam,
Configuring VPN,
Using remote desktop servers
Remote access via SSH
SSH jump host
Instant messaging with XMPP
Skype for Business
JGU e-mail in Thunderbird
JGU Exchange with Thunderbird
Live Linux (in the course rooms)
Remote desktop access
Automated Linux installation
Please note: Some of the links below lead to pages in German, as work on the English version is still in progress. We apologize for the inconvenience.
In the overview, the available documentation is listed according to the operating system:
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Mobile devices using Adroid |
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Instructions for the macOS operating system (in German) |
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Instructions for Unix Operating Systems |
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Our instructions, which you will find ordered by subject on our home page, usually refer to the operating system Microsoft Windows. |
