How/where do you do all of this?

What are you exactly trying to do?

Well, I'm trying to figure out how to access the file system of my N800 so that I can put some ScummVM games on it.

I've got a 1GB SD card and it holds a few games, but I'd like to put a couple more directly onto the N800. I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this.

I did get SSH to work, but it was not very clear. First, I installed rootsh. Then I ran sudo gainroot. Then I installed openssh, and was able to connect by finding my IP address using the command "ifconfig" in the x terminal along with port 22. I used FileZilla on my Windows PC to connect to my N800.

However, when I tried to connect again, I noticed that I didn't have root access so I couldn't use ifconfig to view my IP address (I forgot what it was). Is there no way to permanently have root access so I don't have to type "sudo gainroot" each time I want to look at my IP address?

Or, is there a better way to transfer files directly onto my N800? Please bear in mind I'm a complete linux/N800 newbie here.. I'm learning a lot of things for the first time.

Of course..1st things 1st....you are heading a little deeper into the pool compared to the shallow end where you should be. For a windows user...I know that this is like another world in compare.
1- just putting games on an sd card isn't going to work
2- using your n800 browser go to maemo.org...at the top there is a section called downloads in "Downloads" ...a button .."os2008" ...under that is a section for your os..."Games". Those are easy click on the install button....they install. Bam
3- researching the methods of properly installing and implementing game files for scumm ...deal with that last ...
4- if you want to put files onto your 1gb card....there is an easier way...a couple in fact....bluetooth is one. wifi transfer is another...but easiest for you is this:
a- put your sd card 1st into the external slot under the foldout stand
b- open the file manager
c- hopefully the file system shows the external sd card...(if it doesn't pull it out put it in your computer and format it with panasonic sd card formatter)....click and highlight the external sd card...then go to the top left drop down in the file manager window....format the card.
then the card should have no prob with compat.
5- pull out the pc to n800 connector cable you just used to flash with
6- make sure your nokia is on close the file manager...plug in the cable
7- your comp will find 2 areas...one is the sd card..click and open it..drag and drop whatever files/folders from your computer to your sd card...wait for it to finish...close window...ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU PROPERLY SAFELY REMOVE USB DEVICE BEFORE UNPLUGGING THE CABLE. FORGET AND IT WON"T BE FUN FOR YOUR SD CARD.
8- Bob's your uncle
9-Remember to please post in the relevant subsection for your device/os/prob .. ...I can't help while you bounce around the forum subsections....it makes it difficult if not impossible for others who would like to reference and find out how a problem was solved if the question is in one forum but the answers are spread throughout many others.

Transferring 1GB file took me 35 mins OpenSSH vs WinSCP using scp. Am I doing something wrong, or is SSH slow as a turtle?
Not only was it painfully slow, but it drains my battery fast and of course I can't switch batteries during the process.

I rarely try transferring files that large ssh-ing.
bluetooth, wifi, usb...alot quicker.

Could you please point me where to read about wi-fi transferring without SSH. I had an impression it was only possible using SSH. Tried bluetooth - even slower. .

Speaking of bluetooth transfer ...I just finished transferring about 800 mb of graphic work from my n800 to my comp....took a few hours...yeah...wifi is quicker...usb quicker still...transfer speed is dependent on many factors....I know that 1 file at 800mb will transfer much faster than 2317 files at 800mb ...for example.

Geez...been doing so long...don't even really think about a step by step.
Hmmmm....Simply put... the point is to enable your nxx0 device to access a specific file folder on your pc.
As far as your pc goes under devices enable wifi or bluetooth or both....make sure your pc is visible for it... for that nxx0....and the same for the nxx0 to see the pc.
once you are able to have both devices see each other ...drag and drop files onto pc folder designated for transfer...(the key point is the specific folder you wish to enable sharing must be enabled to share...ie permission to share).... Then access shared devices on target nxx0 ...and simply move files to a locale in your nxx0 file system.

I know this seems a bit vague in explanation...but explicit directions do vary depending on the specific p.c. o.s. .

There is an experimental Samba server available for the N900 in extras-devel. I've never had much luck with it myself, but then I've never tried hard enough since SSH/SCP suits all my needs just fine.

Your speed will probably depend on whether there are any other computers using your wifi network. I can get speeds of up to about 1MB/s when I transfer a file from a wired computer to my N900 (the N900 is the only thing using the wlan). Which is pretty respectable considering that when using samba or sftp on my Galaxy Note 2, I cannot get more than 400KB/s.