Skip to content

Logging In

Logging In

Once you have been granted an account you will need to login to the head node of one of the clusters.

Essential knowledge: Linux command line

All the clusters run Linux and you will need to be comfortable working with the command prompt. If you have had no experience with the Linux command line interface we have training material as well as a how to guide. Alternately there are numerous web articles on how to use the Linux command prompt.

  1. You will need to download an ssh client such as PuTTY. Download the 64-bit x86 executable now.

    downloading putty

  2. Save putty.exe to your C: drive and run it.

  3. Enter the hostname of the cluster, for example hpc.uct.ac.za, and click Open.

    Cluster name

    Our cluster has two names that can be used interchangeably:

    • hpc.uct.ac.za
    • hex.uct.ac.za

    running putty running putty

  4. Type in your username the black PuTTY screen

  5. Press enter
  6. Type in your password

  7. Press enter (Note: The password characters will not appear when you type them, this is a security feature. Therefore it is important to pay attention when you are entering your password and be mindful of capitalisation).

    logging in with username

    Linux commands

    You can learn basic Linux commands for using the cluster in our Linux cheatsheet.

  8. You are successfully logged in if the prompt changes to your_username@srvslshpc001.

Most Apple MAC OS’s come with commands for logging in preinstalled.

  1. From Applications > Utilities select Terminal.

    opening the terminal

  2. In the Terminal application (black screen) type the following:

    ssh username@hpc.uct.ac.za

    Cluster name

    Our cluster has two names that can be used interchangeably:

    • hpc.uct.ac.za
    • hex.uct.ac.za

  3. Type in your username

  4. Press enter
  5. Type in your password
  6. Press enter (Note: The password characters will not appear when you type them, this is a security feature. Therefore it is important to pay attention when you are entering your password and be mindful of capitalisation).

  7. You are successfully logged in if the prompt changes to your_username@srvslshpc001.

    Linux commands

    You can learn basic Linux commands for using the cluster in our Linux cheatsheet.

Most Linux distributions come with commands for logging in preinstalled.

  1. Open the terminal

    opening the terminal

  2. Log in with the following command: 

    ssh username@hpc.uct.ac.za

    Cluster name

    Our cluster has two names that can be used interchangeably:

    • hpc.uct.ac.za
    • hex.uct.ac.za

  3. Type in your username

  4. Press enter
  5. Type in your password
  6. Press enter (Note: The password characters will not appear when you type them, this is a security feature. Therefore it is important to pay attention when you are entering your password and be mindful of capitalisation).

  7. You are successfully logged in if the prompt changes to your_username@srvslshpc001.

    Linux commands

    You can learn basic Linux commands for using the cluster in our Linux cheatsheet.

Logging Out

The same process for logging out of the HPC can be followed regardless of the operating system of your own computer.

To exit from the cluster type exit.

exit