Log in and other preparations¶

Learning outcomes

This is an optional session. If you have done all three steps, see you at 10:00 sharp!

Be able to follow this course:

Step 1: You have fulfilled the prerequisites (you have already done this)
Step 2a: You can log in (see below) (this session)
Step 2b: You can use a text editor on your HPC cluster (this session)
(optional) Step 3: Use the tarball with exercises. This step is optional, as we also do this under course time

Note

You were invited to be part of the course project.
If you already have research projects in any of the clusters you can use them. The CPU-hours required during the course will be low!

Step 1: Log in¶

For beginners: use the bold login method.

HPC cluster	Login method	Documentation	YouTube video
Alvis	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Alvis	Website	Documentation	YouTube video
Bianca	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Bianca	Website	Documentation	YouTube video
COSMOS	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
COSMOS	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Dardel	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
Dardel	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Kebnekaise	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
Kebnekaise	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Kebnekaise	Website	Documentation	YouTube video
LUMI	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Pelle	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Pelle	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
Rackham	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
Rackham	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video
Rackham	Website	Documentation	YouTube video
Tetralith	Local ThinLinc client	Documentation	YouTube video
Tetralith	SSH	Documentation	YouTube video

What are the differences between these login methods?

These are the ways to access your HPC cluster and some of their features:

How it looks like	How to access your HPC cluster	Features
	Remote desktop via a website	Familiar remote desktop, clumsy, clunky, no need to install software, not available at all centers
	Remote desktop via a local ThinLinc client	Familiar remote desktop, clumsy, need to install ThinLinc
	Console environment using an SSH client	A console environment, powerful, need to install an SSH client

NSCPDCC3SEUPPMAXHPC2NLUNARC

Create a working directory where you can code along.
- Example. If your username is jlpicard and you are at NSC, then we recommend you create this folder:
```
mkdir /proj/courses-fall-2025/users/jlpicard
```

Create a working directory where you can code along.
- Example. If your username is sevenof9 and you are at PDC, then we recommend you create this folder:
```
mkdir /cfs/klemming/projects/supr/courses-fall-2025/sevenof9/
```

Create a working directory where you can code along.
- Example. If your username is sevenof9 and you are at Alvis at C3SE, then we recommend you create this folder:
```
mkdir /mimer/NOBACKUP/groups/courses-fall-2025/sevenof9/
```

Create a working directory where you can code along.
- Example. If your username is “mrspock” and you are at UPPMAX,

then we recommend you create this folder:

``` console
mkdir /proj/r-matlab-julia-pelle/mrspock/
```

Create a working directory where you can code along.
- Example. If your username is bbrydsoe and you are at HPC2N, then we recommend you create this folder:
```
mkdir /proj/nobackup/fall-courses/bbrydsoe/
```

Create a working directory in your home space where you can code along.
- Example. Create this folder:
```
mkdir $HOME/r-matlab-julia
```

Learn how to use an text editor at Use a text editor.

Learn how to download and extract the tarball with exercises at Use the tarball with exercises.