Login to the Bianca console environment with a password¶
There are multiple ways to log in to Bianca.
This page describes how to log in to Bianca using a terminal and a password:
- Procedure: describes the procedure
- Troubleshooting: describes how to fix errors
Procedure¶
Video: how to use a terminal and SSH to access the Bianca console environment
This video shows how to use a terminal and SSH to access the Bianca console environment: YouTube
1. Get inside the university networks¶
Get inside the university networks.
Forgot how to get within the university networks?
See the 'get inside the university networks' page here
2. Use ssh to log in¶
From a terminal, use ssh to log in:
For example:
How does it look like when outside of SUNET?
Here you can see how this looks like when outside of SUNET.
Spoiler: quite dull, as nothing happens until these is a timeout.
Why no -A?
On Bianca, one can use -A:
this option is only useful when you want to
log in to Bianca via the console using an SSH key.
As we here use passwords (i.e. no SSH keys)
to access Bianca, -A is unused
and hence we simplify this documentation by omitting it.
Why no -X?
On Rackham, one can use -X:
However, on Bianca, this so-called X forwarding is disabled. Hence, we do not teach it :-)
3. Type your UPPMAX password with 2FA¶
Type your UPPMAX password,
directly followed by the UPPMAX 2-factor authentication number,
for example verysecret678123, then press enter.
In this case, the password is verysecret and 678123
is the 2FA number.
After authenticated using the UPPMAX password and 2FA, you are logged in on Bianca's shared network, on a so-called 'jumphost'.
However, you will still need to login to your own private virtual project cluster. As you are already properly authenticated (i.e. using an UPPMAX password and UPPMAX 2FA), you don't need 2FA anymore.
What is a virtual project cluster?
As Bianca holds sensitive data, by regulations, each Bianca project must be isolated from each other and are not allowed to, for example, share the same memory.
One way to achieve this, would be to build one HPC cluster per project. While this would guarantee isolated project environments, this would be quite impractical.
Instead, we create isolated project environments by using software, that creates so-called virtual clusters, as if they would be physical clusters. Like physical clusters, a virtual cluster has a guaranteed isolated project environment.
When you login to Bianca's shared network,
you will get a message of your project's login node status.
It can be up and running or down.
If it is down, the virtual cluster is started,
which may take some minutes.
4. Type your UPPMAX password¶
Type your UPPMAX password,
for example verysecret
5. You are in¶
Enjoy! You are in! Or, to be precise, you are on the login node of your own virtual project cluster.
How to behave on a login node
On a login node, one can and should do simple things only: it is a resource shared with all other users on that node.
If you need to do more intense calculations, use the Slurm job scheduler.
If you need to do more intense calculations interactively, use an interactive node.
By default, this node has one core, hence if you need more memory or more CPU power, you submit a job (interactive or batch), and an idle node will be moved into your project cluster.
Troubleshooting¶
Here are some common errors and their solutions:
Permission denied, please try again¶
Here are the questions we will ask to solve your problem:
flowchart TD
error[Permission denied, please try again.]
correct_password[Is your password correct?]
added_2fa[Have you added a 2FA number at the end of your password?]
added_correct_2fa[Have you added the correct 2FA number at the end of your password?]
in_sunet[Are you within the university networks?]
active_bianca_project[Is that Bianca project active?]
member_of_bianca_project[Are you a member of that Bianca project]
contact_support[Contact support]
error --> correct_password
error --> in_sunet
in_sunet --> |yes| active_bianca_project
correct_password --> |yes| added_2fa
added_2fa --> |yes| added_correct_2fa
active_bianca_project --> |yes| member_of_bianca_project
member_of_bianca_project --> |yes| contact_support
added_correct_2fa --> |yes| contact_supportHow do I know my password is correct?
You don't.
It could be a typo: you don't see your password when you type (this is a security measure), so a typo is likely to occur. Also check if 'Caps Lock' is off.
It could be that you've forgotten your password. That can happen to all of us. You can then reset your password at https://suprintegration.uppmax.uu.se/getpasswd
What do you mean 'Have you added a 2FA number at the end of your password?'?
When you type your password, this needs to be followed by a two-factor authentication number.
For example, if your password is verysecret and 314159 is the 2FA number,
you should type verysecret314159
What is the correct 2FA number?
The UPPMAX one, titled [username]@UPPMAX, for example sven@UPPMAX.
When using UPPMAX, one needs to create other 2FAs too, such as for SUPR or the Uppsala VPN. Don't use those numbers to login to Bianca.
How do I know if I am within the university networks?
If you login via eduroam you are within the university networks.
When unsure, go to the Bianca remote desktop website at https://bianca.uppmax.uu.se: if this page does not load, you are outside of the university networks.
See How to get inside of the university networks if you outside of the university networks.
How do I know if the Bianca project is active?
A quick way to confirm your Bianca project is active: go to https://bianca.uppmax.uu.se and type your username. If the project is displayed, it is active.
To confirm your project is active or inactive, use the SUPR NAISS website. See the UPPMAX documentation on projects how to see if your project is active?
How do I know if I am a member of the Bianca project?
A quick way to confirm you are a member of the Bianca project: go to https://bianca.uppmax.uu.se and type your username. If the project is displayed, you are a member of the Bianca project.
To confirm your project is active or inactive, use the SUPR NAISS website. See the UPPMAX documentation on projects how to see which projects you are a member of.
See the UPPMAX page on contacting support on how to contact us.