GFDL - Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

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TaraMcQueen - 2011-01-03

Initial User login Non-GFDL users (OFFSITE Users)

These instructions will simplify the boarding process to Gaea for any user who is not a GFDL user and does not have a personal workstation at GFDL in which they log into. This includes AOS users who work in buildings other than GFDL. Following these 3 steps will setup your account and set your standard configurations files automatically. If you prefer to manually do this, please see ConfigureGaeaConnection documentation. Step 1 and 2 can be completed at anytime independently of each other. Step 3 can only be completed an hour or so after Step 2. This is because a successful login will not happen until your certificates are signed by two other parties. Users who have already generated a certificate on the new analysis nodes here at GFDL may not need to generate a new certificate on Gaea as explained in Step 2. For these users, please disregard instructions 6,7 and 8 from Step 2.

IMPORTANT!! Users must have an active GFDL cryptocard with them and access to their GFDL Daisy and public1 workstations. To do this users will need to ssh into Daisy using their cryptocard. Documentation for this is available at http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/access/documentation/PuTTY_Documentation.pdf. Once in Daisy, users will need to do an ssh into public1 using their 3 character GFDL provided initials. Below is an example: 
[tlm@daisy ~]$ ssh tlm@public1

public1:/home/tlm>

NOTE: For any DSA key fingerprint and authenticity questions that propagate during this log into public, users will have to answer yes in order to add this DSA key to their list of known hosts.

Step 1 (gfdl workstation .ssh/config setup)

  1. Once logged into public1 run this command terminal ~tlm/bin/usersetup/setup-gfdl-ssh.pl

This step will insert the necessary configurations for ssh connections to the gaea system. After this is complete, users will only need to do an ssh gaea to connect to gaea. This script will also generate a backup of your original config file. This will be /home/$USER/.ssh/config.bak. Running this command will add all standard gaea configurations to what was preexisting. It will overwrite old gaea configurations if it matches the current format.

Step 2 (proxy certificate)

  1. Log onto the public workstation (if not already)
  2. Run the command ssh gaea
  3. Enter your cryptocard
  4. Answer yes for any yes/no questions.
  5. Create a minimum of 3 words passphrase for your grid certificate. This will only occur if you did not already generate a passphrase for the new analysis nodes.
  6. Confirm your passphrase
  7. It will then prompt you for a "PASSCODE" -- at this point there's nothing further for you to do; hit Control-C to log off and wait until your certificate has been processed.

This set has generated your certificates. NOTE- You will not be able to fully log on until your certificate is signed and recognized. This will take some time on our side. You may keep attempting to log into gaea but anytime it asks you for a PASSCODE, it means your certificate is not ready yet. NOTE- Users who have already logged onto the analysis nodes will have already generated a certificate and will not need to do so here. In this case, they will only need to enter their cryptocard and that will log them onto their home directory on Gaea.

 Your certificate is approved (if generated on gaea) when you can do the following on your first login from within public1:
  1. ssh gaea
  2. enter cryptocard
  3. enter passphrase (the one you generated in previously in step 2)
  4. enter cryptocard again (generate new number)
  5. you will be brought to your home directory which will have your First.Last> e.g. home1/Tara.McQueen>

AGAIN, if you can't log on or your are not prompted for the above inputs, you MUST WAIT and TRY AGAIN later. Step 3 cannot be completed until you have logged onto gaea.

Step 3 (After successful Gaea login)

  1. Run this command a gaea terminal: /ncrc/home1/Tara.McQueen/bin/usersetup/setup_cshrc_2.pl

This script allows users to automatically setup two gaea specific configuration files. This will create a .cshrc and a .ssh/config file.

Once these steps are complete, you are officially logged onto gaea and can start the hands on training course.