HPC/Network Access/PuTTY Configuration

Introduction

The Carbon cluster is reachable from networks outside Argonne only through SSH tunneling or VPN. Either way has advantages and disadvantages. This page explains how to connect through an ssh tunnel.

Tunneling is a two-step process:

1. Establish the tunnel.
2. Connect through the tunnel.

Overview slides (pdf) and specifics for Carbon are detailed elsewhere. The PuTTY setup for both steps is illustrated below.

Note that the PuTTY Configuration panel is somewhat idiosyncratic to operate, notably regarding the concept of Sessions. Numerous screenshots on Google provide general guidance.

Configuring PuTTY to access Carbon

• The SSH Gateway
• The Carbon login node

Connecting to Carbon

• Connecting to the SSH Gateway
• Connecting to a Carbon login node

1. In the PuTTY Configuration window, click Session at the top of the tree on the left.
2. Select the session named Mega and push Load.
3. Make sure the Host Name field shows mega.cnm.anl.gov.
4. Push Open.

   

5. When prompted, enter your Argonne account password. When accepted, the cursor will wait at the next line and nothing further will happen.

   

6. Minimize the window to the taskbar (as opposed to closing it).

Connecting to Carbon itself

1. Open another PuTTY window.
2. Select the session named Clogin and push Load.
3. Make sure the Host Name field shows localhost.

   

4. Push Open.
5. Welcome to Carbon! - You should get our NOTICE TO USERS and a prompt saying login5 or login6 followed by /home/username.