Connecting through the Command Line Interface

For more advanced usage and greater control, users can connect to UCHC HPC resources using a Command Line Interface (CLI).

Hosts

In order to connect to the HPC system through the command line, users must connect via SSH through a login host. See the SSH section below if you are unfamiliar with SSH. Details on the most frequently used hosts are provided in the sections below. The general steps for connecting to each of them are the same:

  1. Ensure that you have setup an SSH key for authentication.
  2. Ensure that you have completed Duo enrollment for two-factor authentication.
  3. Connect with an SSH client (e.g. Terminal or Windows PowerShell) via the host url using the SSH command:ssh <user>@<host url>

Mantis mantis.hpc.cam.uchc.edu

Mantis is the newest cluster and recommended for nearly all users.

Requirements

Usage

ssh <user>@mantis.hpc.cam.uchc.edu where <user> is replaced with your CAM username.

Xanadu xanadu.hpc.cam.uchc.edu

Xanadu is a legacy cluster replaced by Mantis. A limited number of resources will remain in Xanadu for a period of time to allow users to transition to Mantis. This cluster will eventually be removed from service so users are encouraged to transition to Mantis as soon as possible.

Requirements

Usage

ssh <user>@xanadu.hpc.cam.uchc.edu where <user> is replaced with your CAM username.

Mantis Internal mantis-submit.cam.uchc.edu

The Mantis internal host is an alternative access point for Mantis that is only accessible from the UConn Health network or while connected to the CAM VPN. This host is no longer likely to be useful to most users.

Requirements

  • SSH key
  • Must be connected to the CAM VPN or the UConnHealth-SECURE WiFi network.

Usage

ssh <user>@mantis-submit.cam.uchc.edu where <user> is replaced with your CAM username.

SSH (Secure Shell)

Any connection made through the command line interface must be made through SSH (Secure Shell) using an SSH client. SSH is a secure protocol that allows users to connect to a remote server and execute commands on that server.

SSH Client

An SSH client is a software tool that allows you to connect to a remote server using the SSH protocol. Most operating systems come with a built-in SSH client, but there are also third-party SSH clients available for download.

MacOS & Linux

MacOS and Linux users can use the built-in SSH client through the Terminal application.

Windows

Since Windows 10, Windows comes with a built-in SSH client which can be accessed through the Windows PowerShell application. For older versions of Windows, you can use a third-party SSH client such as MobaXterm.

Usage

If using the built-in SSH client, you simply open a Terminal or Windows PowerShell application and use the SSH command ssh to connect to the desired host. The general syntax for the SSH command is: ssh <user>@<host url> where <user> is your CAM username and <host url> is the URL of the host you want to connect to (e.g. login.hpc.cam.uchc.edu for Mantis external).

SSH Keys

All SSH connections made to the UConn Health HPC system require the use of SSH keys for authentication. See the SSH Keys page for more information and for instructions on how to generate and use SSH keys for authentication.