What's the recommended method for everyday access to the TeraGrid?

The instructions below assume you have finished all the initial procedures for getting a TeraGrid allocation. If you have not completed all these steps, see What is the TeraGrid, and how can I get started using it?

On this page:

• Using Single Sign-On via the TeraGrid User Portal
• Single Sign-On from the command line of a TeraGrid Resource
• Single Sign-On from your desktop or laptop computer (beta)

Single Sign-On via the TeraGrid User Portal

The fastest method to start computing or moving data across multiple resources on the TeraGrid is to use Single Sign-On from the TeraGrid User Portal.

This method employs a GSI-SSH module to connect to any TeraGrid resource on which you are allocated. Once you're logged into the User Portal, you won't have to enter any other username or password. Your User Portal login information (i.e., TeraGrid-wide password) is included in your initial information packet you received by mail.

To begin using TeraGrid resources via the User Portal:

1. Log into the User Portal.
   
   
2. At the top, click My TeraGrid.
   
   
3. To see a list of resources on which you're allocated, click Accounts.
   
   
4. To connect to a resource, click its corresponding Login link.

   Note: If your computer displays one or more security warnings stating the application's digital signature cannot be verified, click Run to continue launching the GSI-SSH terminal.

Connecting for the first time takes a few moments. For troubleshooting information, see the User Portal help page.

Single Sign-On from the command line of a TeraGrid resource

You also can use Single Sign-On from the command line of a TeraGrid resource, but this requires that you know two passwords: one for the resource from which you're starting, plus your TeraGrid-wide password. Once you're fully authenticated, you will be able to access all your allocated resources without authenticating repeatedly.

To start a session, create a certificate proxy:

1. Log into the TeraGrid resource that you've chosen as a starting point, using the instructions for that resource from your account information packet.
   
   
2. If this is your first login to a TeraGrid resource, skip to the next step. If you have logged into a TeraGrid resource before, check for an existing proxy. At the command line, enter grid-proxy-info . If you already have a proxy, you can start computing. If you receive an error saying that you do not have a temporary proxy, continue with the next step.
   
   
3. To create a certificate proxy, run myproxy-logon . You'll get a prompt to enter your MyProxy passphrase, which is the same as the TeraGrid-wide password you received in your initial account packet.
   
   
4. To verify the proxy, run grid-proxy-info again.

After starting a proxy session, use GSI-SSH to connect to other resources. You will not be asked for a password again during that session. By default, proxies last 12 hours, so you will need to run myproxy-logon each day. If you wish to destroy a proxy before its expiration, run grid-proxy-destroy .

Single Sign-On from your desktop or laptop computer (beta)

This method features the following:

• It requires you to know only one password, your TeraGrid-wide password.
  
  
• The starting point is a browser window (Windows) or your local Linux, Unix, or Mac OS X command line using the tgsso application.
  
  
• The setup process on TeraGrid resources is automated for you.
  
  
• You need to install gsi-ssh term (Linux, Unix, or Mac OS X) or a Java applet (Windows, beta) on your workstation.
  
  
• It uses the default certificate issued for TeraGrid by the NCSA CA.

For instructions, follow the appropriate link:

• Linux, Unix, or Mac OS X: http://www.teragrid.org/userinfo/access/tgsso_native.php
• Windows: http://www.teragrid.org/userinfo/access/tgsso_win.php

This information is adapted from the TeraGrid User Info pages. For more, see the Single Sign-0n Quick Start page in the TeraGrid User Support documentation.

This document was developed with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. 0503697 to the University of Chicago and subcontracted to Indiana University. Additional support was provided by IU through its participation in the TeraGrid, which is supported by the NSF under Grants No. 0833618, SCI451237, SCI535258, and SCI504075. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NSF.

Also see:

• What is a TeraGrid-wide login?