Overview
The ITS Software Distribution Directory (swdist) is a repository for some of the software offered by the University of Michigan to its students, faculty and staff. You will need your uniqname and UMICH password to access swdist.
No-Cost Versus For-Fee
Some of the software — such as antivirus and secure file transfer programs — is available at no cost to you because the university believes these items benefit its computing environment and provide value to all members.
Other software is available for a licensing fee negotiated between the university and the vendor. These fees are signficantly smaller than the cost of purchasing the product commercially. Visit ITS Software Licensing and Distribution (SWLD) for complete details and to purchase a software license.
Navigating swdist
Once connected to the Software Distribution Directory (swdist), you'll be presented with an alphabetical (a-z) listing of folders (directories).
Software is stored according to the first letter of its name. For example, PuTTY (a program to securely connect to a host computer) can be found within the "p" folder. Mulberry (an e-mail program) is located in the "m" folder.
Tip Some software folders — such as mathematica — appear empty. That means you must purchase a license through SWLD to access the categorized software.
Web Access
You can download some of the software using your Web browser. You may wish to try this method first. If you cannot download via the web, follow the SFTP Access instructions.
ITS Software Distribution Directory (swdist) via the Web.
Note You will need your uniqname and UMICH password to connect to swdist.
SFTP Access
All software available through the Software Distribution Directory can be downloaded using programs that support SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol).
It is highly recommended you use the U-M Blue Disc to obtain the appropriate program already configured to work within the U-M computing environment — including connecting to swdist.
However, you can also download — at no cost — the U-M supported SFTP programs for your Windows or Mac OS X computer.
Note You will need your uniqname and UMICH password to download these programs.
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Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7: WinSCP is available from the U-M Blue Disc web site.
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Mac OS X 10.4 or above: Fugu is available from the U-M Blue Disc web site.
Appendix: SFTP Settings
If you did not obtain your SFTP program through the university, you will need the following settings to connect to the ITS Software Distribution Directory.
| Host: | login.itd.umich.edu Tip With Fugu, enter this information in the Connect to field. |
| User or Username: | your uniqname |
| Port: | 22 |
| Directory: | /afs/umich.edu/group/itd/swdist/ |