All this assumes that you are on a LAN with DHCP enabled so that the machine will automatically get an IP address.

when knoppix boots off the CD it will wait at the boot splash screen, enter the command:
knoppix 2

After some minutes go by, knoppix will boot to a root enabled command prompt. change the root user's password: passwd

Then type in a temporary password followed by the ENTER key. It needs you to confirm it so type in that same temporary password followed by the ENTER key.

Then run the sshd service: /etc/init.d/sshd start


Then from another machine try to connect to it via ssh. I know that a machine on my LAN will get a 192.168.1.0/24 address, and I will guess that a this machine will get 192.168.1.12. Use the ssh client from another machine:
ssh [email protected]

You will know if it is working when you see stanard ssh connection info.