HackMDAccess to HPCFS
Granting access
You can access the supercomputer HPCFS by username and password OR by ssh key.
In both cases, you first need approval from computing center of UL FME. To get it, you need to send to hpc@fs.uni-lj.si two things:
- a completed form (fill it out, sign it, provide a signature from the head of research unit (laboratory) whose computing resources you will spend);
- encrypted password OR SSH key:
- password: click on the password to obtain the encrypted password. Send this password to hpc@fs.uni-lj.si;
- SSH key: you can create and distribute SSH key by following the instructions below.
Once the account is approved and activated, you will recieve an email notification to the address you provided in the form. You will be able to access the HPCFS using password that you provided.
Changing password
You can change your password by typing passwd in the command line at the cluster, as demonstrated:
Users from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering can use computational capacities within the framework of the rules avaliable on the general acts of the UL FME intranet under number 1.9 and 1.9.1.
External users, who would like to use the computational capacities for their own purpose can rent computational capacities by agreement with the FS secretary dekanat@fs.uni-lj.si
Questions
Questions can be addressed to hpc@fs.uni-lj.si
Creating SSH key
These instructions are for those who want to access the HPCFS system by SSH key (note that you can ccsess HPCFS also with username and password only.)
Linux
If you use Linux at your (local) computer, run in the command line:
The public part of the key which is stored to /home/user/.ssh/id_rsa.pub has been sent to administrators to arrange access to the servers/home/uporabnik/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
Windows
If you use Windows at your local computer, then you should do:
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first download and install the Putty software from https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html
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Once installed, find and run the "puttygen" program. You will get
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When it opens, select the "Generate" option and move the mouse across the empty field to generate the key
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Once the key is generated, you can set the password for the key in "Keypassphrase" and "Confirm passphrase"
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Click "Save public key" option to save the public part of the key (.pub extension).
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By "Save private key" option you save the private part of the key (.ppk extension), which will then allow you to access the servers via the Putty program.
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To access HPCFS with NoMachine NX client, you need also to select "Conversions" and "Export OpenSSH key" above, to store the generated private key in appropriate form (.key extension).
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Send the public part of the key to hpc@fs.uni-lj.si
Ways of access
Once you have granted access to HPCFS (via password or SSH key), you can access the supercomputer HPCFS via:
- Terminal (ssh) access by secure shell console
- NX client for remote desktop enviroment
The recommended method is with NX client, as it allows graphical access to login nodes and easier use of installed programs.
SSH access
Since the terminal console is the most useful for running numerical programs, it is also possible to use a command shell without a graphical interface to connect to remote terminal on login node:
All major operating systems come preinstalled with SSH client. Windows 10 (build 1803 and later) also has native OpenSSH client readily available.
As an alternative, PuTTY terminal emulator for Windows is sometimes prefered. It can be downloaded from the author's website https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/. Configuration of login session is the same as for the NX client, additionaly UTF-8 translation can be enabled for the correct display of non-ascii characters.
NX client
We reccomend remote desktop connection to login nodes via NoMachine NX client. It enables use of graphical applications with hardware accelerated rendering. NoMachine Enterprise Client is free to use and is available for all major operating systems.
You have to select the version appropriate for your operating system.
After installation start NoMachine Enterprise Client and add new connection – choose name, input login node address (host) and select password or key-based authentication. Click Connect. After authentication select "Create a new virtual desktop".
Detailed instructions are available on NoMachine site Installation and Configuration Guide.
The NX server allows the remote desktop to stay active when we disconnect from the host. We can connect to the same deskop session later and continue working (for example, at work or at home). We disconnect by simply closing the NX client window. If we want to end (terminate) session, we log off from remote desktop session. By logging off all desktop appplications on the remote host will be closed.
In addition to single-user access to the login node, collaboration on the same desktop is also available (shadow mode). When connecting in shadow mode, virtual desktop owner is asked to allow access. It is the responsibility of account holders to not give access to their desktops to unauthorized persons. To connect in shadow mode, select Shadow option in the NX settings instead of Unix. For newer versions of NoMachine Enterprise Client, when connecting to session, press Ctrl + Alt and double-click on the icon to get Shadow. On OSX for shadow, double-click the session icon while pressing Cmd + Alt.
Some keyboard shortcuts for NX client:
- Ctrl + Alt + T to close the session
- Ctrk + Alt + 0 NoMachine menu panel
- Ctrl + Alt + F to switch between full screen / window mode
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F Switch between multi-monitor full-screen / window mode (This option is not available for Windows users)
- Ctrl + Alt + Shift + Esc to kill an unresponsive session (This option is not available for Windows users)
- Ctrl + Alt + M to minimize the window
Support
All issues related to HPC should be sent to hpc@fs.uni-lj.si. A ticket will be created and and all communictaion will follow using the UL FME ticketing system.
