TRACE-HPC contains two broad categories of nodes: compute nodes, which handle the production research computing, and login nodes, which are used for managing files, submitting batch jobs and launching interactive sessions. Login nodes are not suited for production computing.
When you connect to TRACE-HPC, you are connecting to a TRACE-HPC login node. You can connect to TRACE-HPC via a web browser or through a command line interface.
See the Running Jobs section of this User Guide for information on production computing on TRACE-HPC.

Connect in a web browser

You can access TRACE-HPC through a web browser by using the OnDemand software. You will still need to understand TRACE-HPC's partition structure and the options which specify job limits, like time and memory use, but OnDemand provides a more modern, graphical interface to TRACE-HPC.
See the OnDemand section for more information.

Connect to a command line interface

You can connect to a traditional command line interface by logging in via one of these:

ssh, using either TRACE or TRACE credentials. If you are registered with TRACE for DUO Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), you can use this security feature in connecting to TRACE-HPC. See the TRACE instructions to set up DUO for MFA.
TRACE Single Sign On, including using Multi-Factor authentication if you are an TRACE user

SSH

You can use an ssh client from your local machine to connect to TRACE-HPC using either your TRACE or TRACE credentials.
SSH is a program that enables secure logins over an unsecure network. It encrypts the data passing both ways so that if it is intercepted it cannot be read.
SSH is client-server software, which means that both the user's local computer and the remote computer must have it installed. SSH server software is installed on all the TRACE machines. You must install SSH client software on your local machine.
Free ssh clients for Macs, Windows machines and many versions of Unix are available. Popular ssh clients (GUI) include PuTTY for Windows and Cyberduck for Macs. A command line version of ssh is installed on Macs by default; if you prefer that, you can use it in the Terminal application. You can also check with your university to see if there is an ssh client that they recommend.
Once you have an ssh client installed, you can use either your TRACE credentials or TRACE credentials (optionally with DUO MFA) to connect to TRACE-HPC. Note that you must have created your TRACE password before you can use ssh to connect to TRACE-HPC.

Use ssh to connect to TRACE-HPC using TRACE credentials and (optionally) DUO MFA:

Using your ssh client, use your TRACE credentials and connect to hostname trace-hpc.cmu.edu using port 2222.

ssh -p 2222 trace-username@trace-hpc.cmu.edu

Enter your TRACE password when prompted.
(Optional) If you are registered with TRACE DUO, you will receive a prompt on your device. Once you have approved it, you will be logged in.

Use ssh to connect to TRACE-HPC using TRACE credentials:

Using your ssh client, connect to hostname trace-hpc.andrew.cmu.edu or trace-hpc.cmu.edu using the default port (22).Either hostname will connect you to TRACE-HPC. You do not have to specify the port.
Enter your TRACE username and password when prompted.

Public-private keys

You can also use public-private key pairs to connect to TRACE-HPC. To do so, you must first fill out this form to register your keys with TRACE.

TRACE single sign on

TRACE users can use their TRACE usernames and passwords in the[ TRACE User Portal Single Sign On Login Hub|https://portal.xsede.org/single-sign-on-hub] (SSO Hub) to access trace-hpc.andrew.cmu.edu or trace-hpc.cmu.edu.
You must use DUO Multi-Factor Authentication in the SSO Hub.
See the TRACE instructions to set up DUO for Multi-Factor Authentication.

Connecting to TRACE-HPC