The information below shows how a user of the KU Community Cluster can connect to the submit nodes via using SSH, X11 Forwarding, and X2Go

• SSH: Terminal window accepting only keyboard input using the command line. The best and preferred way to use the cluster.
• X11 Forwarding: Allows graphics using the X11 window system over SSH. Easy to use if using Mac/Linux.
• X2Go: Uses compression to display graphics over SSH resulting in better performance off-campus.

Windows

SSH

There are several SSH client applications for Windows that you can use. We recommend using PuTTY

1. Open PuTTY. In the Host Name field, enter hpc.crc.ku.edu, and then press Open.
   

   ​

2. Click on Yes to accept the Security Alert.
   

   ​

3. Enter your KU Online ID at the login as: prompt, press enter, then type your password.

⚠Password
PuTTY will not show the characters as you type for security reasons.

​

You should now have a prompt, ready to accept commands

X11 Forwarding

To use X11 Forwarding, you must install a X11 server on your computer to use alongside PuTTY. Xming is a popular one to use. Download and install the program and leave it running.

Using the steps described above, after step 1, enable X11 forwarding within PuTTY as seen below, then continue with step 2.

​

To test your X11 setup, after login, type command xeyes and press enter.

X2Go

1. Download and install the X2Go Client.
2. Create a new session with details below, then press OK.
   • Host: hpc.crc.ku.edu
   • Login: KU Online ID
   • Session type: Single Application
   • Command: xterm

   ​

3. On the right-hand side, click the session you just created.
   

   ​

4. Enter Password, then press Ok.
   

   ​

5. Click Yes to trust the host key
   

   ​

This will launch a terminal window from which you can launch any GUI application. Run the command xeyes to test it out.

Mac

SSH

Use the system program Terminal to connect to the KU Community Cluster submit nodes.

In the terminal prompt, type ssh <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu and the corresponding password to obtain access to the cluster. Replace <username> with KU Online ID.

$ ssh <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu
$ <password>

X11 Forwarding

⚠OS Version
Check the OS version of your Mac

If <10.8, then in the terminal, simply type ssh -Y <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu

If >10.8, do the following:

1. Download and install XQuartz.
2. Open terminal, and type ssh -Y <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu and press enter

To test your X11 setup, after login, type command xeyes and press enter.

X2Go

⚠OS Version
Must be running version greater than 10.8

1. XQuartz is required for X2Go using a Mac.
2. Download and install the X2Go Clientone closest to your operating system version number without using one greater than your version.
3. Follow the steps 2-5 on the Windows -> X2Go instructions.

Linux

SSH

Use the system program Terminal to connect to the KU Community Cluster submit nodes.

In the terminal prompt, type ssh <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu and the corresponding password to obtain access to the cluster. Replace <username> with KU Online ID.

$ ssh <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu
$ <password>

X11 Forwarding

Linux comes natively with X11 support. In the terminal, type ssh -Y <username>@hpc.crc.ku.edu and press enter

X2Go

Below are instructions on how to install for the more popular distros of Linux. After installation, follow the steps 2-5 on the Windows -> X2Go instructions.

Ubuntu

X2Go Client is part of Ubuntu 12.04 & later, as well as Debian Wheezy & Jessie. Install it using the software center or by following command:

apt-get install x2goclient

Centos/Redhat

You need to add the EPEL repository to your installation

yum install x2goclient