After relentless searching on the tubes, I found no step-by-step guides on how to setup SSH on nortel switches, Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 5520 to be exact. After contacting Nortel personally I have finaly found the solution and it wasn't difficult to say the least
1. Download the 'secure code'. Nortel, like Cisco, has two types of 'codes'. The regular and 'secure' code (Please note, that Nortel's 'code' is the exact terminology as Cisco's IOS images). You need to have access to Nortel's website to download this code or, like me, have a vendor get it for you. If you are wondering how to setup SSH, I doubt that you need instructions on setting up a TFTP server and loading the new image.
2. Console into your 5520 and go down to the 'Command Line Interface'
3. Type:
Switch> enable
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# ssh (this is the command that enables ssh)
Switch(config)# end
Switch# show ssh global (this will show you al the parameters. In my case I want it to say 'Enabled' on the last line. You can set it up for 'Secure', but this means all other access to the ERS via Telnet, SNMP, and Web Access have all been disabled. If you accidentally enabled 'Secure' mode, you have to manually re-enable each access mode)
Switch# configure terminal
Switch(config)# cli password read-write (press enter)
YOURPASSWORD (sets the password for read-write access)
Switch(config)# cli password read-only (press enter)
YOURPASSWORD (sets the password for read-only access)
Switch(config)# end
4. When you are setting all this you might notice that you are never setting a username. I have not found any documentation describing how to setup a username. Now, you can SSH to your ERS,but you must specify a username. Any username will work, whether you type in 'admin' or 'jesus', it doesn't matter. Then you type in your password, and you should be presented with the Nortel ASCII graphic. Press Cntrl+Y to start, and it's as if you were sitting at the console.
Attached below here are the two documents used to create this step-by-step guide. The csx_l17a_5500_ssh.doc is the 'Advanced Campus LAN Solutions Workshop' from Nortel. It describes in more detail what was mentioned in my step-by-step, and it gives instructions on how to 'Configure SSH using Public Key Authentication'.
The 2nd attachment, NN47200-501_2.03.pdf, explains the parameters of SSH in the device manager and Command Line Interface.