Connect to the Cluster

You can use either the Windows 10 built-in SSH Client or a third-party SSH client.

Windows 10 Built-In SSH Client

First, let’s check to see if OpenSSH Client is already installed in your version of Windows 10.

• Right-click on the Windows icon/Start button.
• Click “Run.”
• Type “cmd” to open the Command Line app (Windows shell).
• Type “ssh” and press Enter.

A short summary of command line switches should be displayed.

If you see something like the above, you’re all set. You can go to the “Log In with SSH” section.

If you need to install OpenSSH, see the instructions at Installation of OpenSSH For Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10.

Third-Party SSH Client

If you prefer to use a third-party SSH client,  we recommend PuTTY.

Macs have a built-in SSH client. It’s called “Terminal.”

Terminal is found in Applications → Utilities. Or, you can launch Terminal from Spotlight by pressing Command+Spacebar and typing “Terminal,” then pressing Enter.

Below you will find instructions for Windows 10 OpenSSH and PuTTY.

Windows 10 OpenSSH

LOG IN — ON CAMPUS

You will perform all steps, except Step 4 (which only needs to be done the first time you log in), each time you want to log in.

1. Launch Command Prompt:
   If you have added the Command Prompt to your taskbar, just click it.
   OR
   – Right-click on the Windows icon/Start button.
   – Select “Run.”
   – Type in “cmd” and click “OK.”
2. At the command prompt, enter the command below, replacing “<your-netid>” with your UVM NetID and replacing “<hostname>” with the host name of the cluster you would like to use. (See a screenshot at the end of this step.)

   ssh <your-netid>@<hostname>

   HOST NAME:
   vacc-user1.uvm.edu    OR   vacc-user2.uvm.edu

   The identifications “user1” and “user2” refer to the node you’re logging into. Both nodes on both clusters perform exactly the same functions. TIP: If you find that the node you are on is performing more slowly than you expect, it may be that there are many users on that node. Try the other one.

   
   Here is a screen shot of what this will look like, except that you must supply YOUR netid.

3. Press Enter.
4. The first time you connect, a message will ask you if you want to continue connecting. Type “yes” and press Enter. (If your system automatically closes your connection the first time you do this, go back to Step 2.)

   This message appears because the cluster has an RSA key that’s not yet stored in your system registry. As a result, the identity of the key can’t be verified. This action adds the RSA key to the list of known hosts so that you don’t see this warning again when you make future connections. You will get this message once for each node.

5. Type in your UVM password and press Enter. (NOTE: You will not see anything when you type in your password. It is completely masked.)

You’re logged in! You will see the following message and new prompt (in this case we are logged into node 1):

LOG IN — OFF CAMPUS

You can connect to the cluster from outside the UVM network (off campus) by following the steps outlined above.

LOG OUT

To close your session, type “exit” and press Enter. Then click the “x” in the top right-hand corner of Command Line to close the window.

PIN COMMAND PROMPT TO TASKBAR

First, launch Command Prompt (see Step 1, above). Then, right-click on the icon that is now open in the taskbar and select “Pin to taskbar.”

Putty

LOG IN — ON CAMPUS

1. Open PuTTY.

   The “Port” should already be set to “22.”  Under “Connection type,” the option “SSH” should already be selected.

2. In “Host Name (or IP address)” enter the host name: vacc-user1.uvm.edu    OR    vacc-user2.uvm.edu

   The identifications “user1” and “user2” refer to the node you’re logging into. Both nodes on both clusters perform exactly the same functions. TIP: If you find that the node you are on is performing more slowly than you expect, it may be that there are many users on that node. Try the other one.

3. Click “Open.”
4. The first time you connect, a message will ask you if you want to continue connecting. Click “Yes.”
   

   This message appears because the cluster has an RSA key that’s not yet stored in your system registry. As a result, the identity of the key can’t be verified. This action adds the RSA key to the list of known hosts so that you don’t see this warning again when you make future connections. You will get this message once for each node.

5. At the prompt “login as,” enter your UVM NetID and press Enter.
6. At the next prompt, enter your UVM password and press Enter.

You’re logged in!

LOG IN — OFF CAMPUS

You can connect to the cluster from outside the UVM network (off campus) by following the steps outlined above.

LOG OUT

To log out, type “exit” and press Enter. Or, use the key combination CTRL+D.

SAVE HOST NAME AND USER NAME

If you want to make logging in easier, you can save your host name and user name so that you don’t need to enter them each time.

1. In “Host Name (or IP address)” AND in “Saved Sessions,” enter the host name: vacc-user1.uvm.edu    OR    vacc-user2.uvm.edu
2. Click the “Save” button. You will now see the host name in the box below, under “Default Settings.”
3. Click on your host name (the one under “Default Settings”) to select it.
4. In the left-hand pane, go to Connection → Data.
5. In “Auto-login username,” enter your user name (your UVM NetID).
6. In the left-hand pane, go to Session.
7. Click on your host name (the one under “Default Settings”) to select it.
8. Click the “Save” button.
9. To log in, double-click on the host name (the one under “Default Settings”).

Now, whenever you open PuTTY, just double-click on the host name (the one under “Default Settings”).

LOG IN — ON CAMPUS

You will perform all steps, except Step 4 (which only needs to be done the first time you log in), every time you want to log in.

1. Launch Terminal (in Applications → Utilities).
2. At the command prompt, enter the command below, replacing “<your-netid>” with your UVM NetID and replacing “<hostname>” with the host name of the cluster you would like to use. (See a screenshot at the end of this step.)

   ssh <your-netid>@<hostname>

   HOST NAME:
   vacc-user1.uvm.edu    OR    vacc-user2.uvm.edu

   The identifications “user1” and “user2” refer to the node you’re logging into. Both nodes on both clusters perform exactly the same functions. TIP: If you find that the node you are on is performing more slowly than you expect, it may be that there are many users on that node. Try the other one.

3. Press Enter.
4. The first time you connect, a message will ask you if you want to continue connecting. Type “yes” and press Enter.
   

   This message appears because the cluster has an RSA key that’s not yet stored in your system registry. As a result, the identity of the key can’t be verified. This action adds the RSA key to the list of known hosts so that you don’t see this warning again when you make future connections. You will get this message once for each node.

5. Type in your UVM password and press Enter.
   

You’re logged in!

LOG IN — OFF CAMPUS

You can connect to Bluemoon from outside the UVM network (off campus) by following the steps outlined above.

To connect to DeepGreen, you must connect to Bluemoon first (following the steps outlined above), then connect to DeepGreen.

For example, where the netid is “usr1234” (you will, of course, supply your UVM NetID), you will connect to Bluemoon:

ssh usr1234@vacc-user1.uvm.edu
OR
ssh usr1234@vacc-user2.uvm.edu

LOG OUT

You can log out of Terminal through the menu bar. Or, press Command+Q.

ADD TERMINAL TO DOCK

To make Terminal easily accessible, you may want to add it to your Dock.

1. Go to Applications → Utilities.
2. Look for the application called Terminal.
3. Drag Terminal to an empty space in the Dock.