Solutions Log

If your remote username is different from your OS X username, edit your ~/.ssh/config file like so:

Host whathaveyou.com
    User remote_username

Generating your keys

On your OS X machine, enter this command:

ssh-keygen -t dsa

Enter a password or don’t (I didn’t).

This creates a public (~/.ssh/id_dsa.pub) and private key (~/.ssh/id_dsa).

Copying the public key to the remote server

Log in to the server with ssh (with your password–for the last time).

However you want to do it, open the file ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the remote server and paste in the contents of id_dsa.pub. Alternately, you could use scp like so:

scp ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub remote_username@whathaveyou.com:~/.ssh/authorized_keys

(Naturally, if the file and/or folder aren’t there, you’ll have to create them first.)

Now change the permissions:

chmod 700 ~/.ssh/
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

All done. The next time you want to ssh to the server, it won’t prompt you for a password.

Sources:

• Correspondence with Jason and Scott.
• Geek Times
• Rails Machine

2008-01-13 Updated for brevity:

1. Make sure you have at least 14 days before the domain expires.
2. Remove whois privacy.
3. Unlock domain.
4. Change nameservers to new registrar.
5. Get auth code.
6. Make sure email address on account is correct.
7. Go to new registrar and request transfer.
8. Be sure to accept transfer when you get the email requesting it.

I’m slowly transferring my domains to DreamHost from GoDaddy.

1. Because GoDaddy is kind of gross/shady.
2. Because you get cheap prices up front, but they give it to you with renewal fees. (~$20 for a single domain with private registration)
3. DreamHost domains are always $9.95 a year, including private registration. You might pay more up front, but you’ll save a lot in the long run.

Go ahead and buy one! (so I can get referral rewards!)

This is a copy of an email from Jay of the DreamHost Customer Support Team. I had some trouble the first time I tried to transfer.

1. Contact your current registrar and have the whois privacy removed (if applicable).

2. Change your nameservers to point to Dreamhost nameservers. This process takes 12-48 hours.

   Nameserver 1: ns1.dreamhost.com - 66.33.206.206

   Nameserver 2: ns2.dreamhost.com - 66.201.54.66

   Nameserver 3: ns3.dreamhost.com - 66.33.216.216

3. Make sure the contact email address is updated and the domain is not locked. Also get the auth code if applicable.
4. Make sure the domain does not expire within 14 days of requesting the domain transfer. If the domain is going to expire within 14 days of the transfer request, you will have to renew the domain with your current registrar. Then wait 60 days to requesdt for the transfer.
5. Login to your Webpanel, then go to Domains > Reg. Transfer. This is where you can request for the transfer. Or you can request for the domain transfer when you first sign up.
6. You will receive a confirmation email. Follow the instructions within the email.

Follow instructions carefully: Yet Another Guide to Installing Mephisto on Dreamhost

I had some trouble getting this to work, but I think it ended up being my own fault for not following the instructions to the letter. I’m going to have to try installing another app and see if it works again.

Note: when this guide mentions gem_name, don’t include .gem in the command. That is all.