Login to a desktop environment via a web browser¶
Learning outcomes
- Practice using the documentation of your HPC center
- Understand what a remote desktop environment is
- Can log in to a remote desktop environment using a web browser
For teachers
Teaching goals are:
- Learners have practiced using the documentation of their HPC cluster
- Learners understand what a remote desktop environment is
- Learners can log in to a remote desktop environment using a web browser
Teaching non-goals are:
- Explain that the website used uses ThinLinc
Prior questions:
- What is a remote desktop environment?
Feedback questions:
- Q: What is a remote desktop environment?
- A: a typical graphical environment to interact with your computer
What is a remote desktop environment?¶
A remote desktop environment, accessed via a web browser
You are very likely to be using a desktop environment of your local computer right now. All NAISS HPC clusters provide such a desktop environment, yet remotely.
Why login to a remote desktop environment?¶
A remote desktop environment is more a more familiar way to work with computers (and HPC clusters) for most people.
A remote desktop environment, especially via a web browser, is perfect for introducing your low-tech-savvy colleague to the NAISS HPC clusters.
Why use a web browser?¶
Because you've probably already installed one :-)
Exercises¶
Need a video?
The solution of these exercises can be found:
| HPC cluster | YouTube video |
|---|---|
| Alvis | YouTube video |
| Bianca | YouTube video |
| COSMOS | YouTube video |
| Dardel | YouTube video showing that this is impossible |
| Kebnekaise | YouTube video |
| LUMI | Not needed yet |
| Pelle | YouTube video |
| Tetralith | YouTube video showing that this is impossible |
How difficult will this be?
This depends only on your HPC cluster:
| HPC Cluster | Difficulty | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Alvis | Medium | Uses SSH keys, must be in SUNET |
| Berzelius | Easy | Uses password |
| Bianca | Medium | Uses password, must be in SUNET |
| COSMOS | Easy | Uses password |
| Dardel | Impossible | Cannot access Dardel via a web browser |
| Kebnekaise | Easy | Uses password |
| LUMI | Medium | Uses SSH keys |
| Pelle | Medium | Uses password, uses 2FA |
| Tetralith | Impossible | Cannot access Tetralith via a web browser |
| Vera | Easy | Uses password |
Here, we log in to your HPC cluster's remote desktop environment using a web browser, starting from the documentation of your favorite HPC cluster.
Where is the documentation of my favorite HPC cluster?
| HPC Cluster | Documentation |
|---|---|
| Alvis | Documentation |
| Berzelius | Documentation |
| Bianca | Documentation |
| COSMOS | Documentation |
| Dardel | Documentation |
| Kebnekaise | Documentation |
| LUMI | Documentation |
| Pelle | Documentation |
| Rackham | Documentation |
| Tetralith | Documentation |
| Vera | Documentation |
Exercise 1: login to your HPC cluster's remote desktop environment¶
Go to the documentation of your HPC center, then answer these questions:
- Find the page about how to login to your HPC cluster's remote desktop environment using a web browser
I cannot find it. Where is it?
| HPC cluster | Documentation |
|---|---|
| Alvis | Documentation |
| Bianca | Documentation |
| COSMOS | Documentation |
| Dardel | Documentation which states that this is impossible |
| Kebnekaise | Documentation |
| LUMI | Not needed yet |
| Pelle | Documentation |
| Tetralith | Documentation that does not mention this |
- Log in to your HPC cluster's remote desktop environment using a web browser