You can access the HPC Cluster with Text-mode remote access using secure shell (ssh) protocol. The HPC Cluster is only accessible from the RWTH network and from other selected German universities. In all other cases you have to first establish a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection.

You first need to select one of the login nodes to connect to. With SSH you will then be asked for either:

• Your username and password (ab123456 and associated HPC RegApp password)
• Your password to your local private key when using SSH Private/Public Keys.

Currently only the Login Node login18-4.hpc.itc.rwth-aachen.de requires Multi-Factor-Authentication (MFA). Please refer to this if you want to test MFA.

For example, for OpenSSH, the standard Linux ssh client:

ssh -l <your_userid> login18-1.hpc.itc.rwth-aachen.de

Instead of login18-1 you can use any of the login nodes.

If you need to start graphical applications we recommend to use a remote desktop software. Alternatively, you can also enable X11 forwarding/X11 tunneling by your ssh client. For OpenSSH this is done by giving it the -X command line option:

ssh -X -l <your_userid> login18-1.hpc.itc.rwth-aachen.de

If your X11 application is not running properly try to use the (less secure) -Y instead of -X :

ssh -Y -l <your_userid> login18-1.hpc.itc.rwth-aachen.de

If you can not connect to the RWTH Network from an external German University or research institution, please contact <servicedesk@itc.rwth-aachen.de> to unlock the firewall for your university / research institute.