Log into Access Desktop and Register an HPC Cluster

Log into Access Desktop and register an HPC cluster so that you can begin submitting jobs to the Workload Manager.

Launch Access Desktop

Launch Access Desktop so that you can submit jobs to the Workload Manager.

Double-click the Access Desktop icon shortcut that appears on the desktop to launch Access Desktop.
Once Access Desktop is up and running, you are prompted to either login or register an HPC cluster.
Note: Before you can login and submit jobs to the Workload Manager, you must add a HPC cluster. If you have already registered an HPC cluster, then the Access Desktop login screen is displayed. Otherwise, you will be prompted to register an HPC cluster.

Add a Cluster Using SSH

Add and establish a connection to the HPC cluster using SSH by registering it so that you may begin submitting and monitoring jobs.

To add a cluster using SSH you will need a valid set of credentials to connect to the PBS Server.
  1. Open the Windows system tray.
  2. Double-click the Access Desktop icon .
  3. Click .
  4. Select Clusters.
    A Clusters dialog box is displayed.


    Figure 1. Add Cluster
  5. For Cluster Display Name, enter a name for the cluster as it will be known within Access Desktop.
  6. For Login Node Name, enter the host name of the machine where the PBS Server is installed.
    Note: If the SSH port is different from the default port number: 22, then please add the port number along with the host name of the PBS Server.
  7. For User name, enter your user name.
  8. Choose one of the following options:
    • Select Password from the drop down box and enter your password.
    • Select SSH Key from the drop down menu and import the RSA private SSH key file.
      Note: For the CentOS 8.x, generate an SSH key using the following command "ssh-keygen -t rsa -m PEM".
  9. Optional: If you have chosen to enter your password, you may enable Skip this next time, so that you do not have to enter your credentials again.
    Note: To make sure that Skip this next time works, ssh login using keys should work for your account on login node.

    An SSH key is generated and stored allowing you to login to the cluster without having to enter your credentials.

  10. Enter the location on the PBS Server where job files will be staged when a job is running.
  11. Choose one of the following options:
    • If you have chosen to store your application definitions in a central repository rather than on your workstation, enter the URL for accessing the central repository in the format https://<HOSTNAME>:4443 where <HOSTNAME> is the hostname of the machine where Access Web is installed.
      Note: If the central repository is being hosted on the PBS Server, then the URL is automatically populated.
    • If you have chosen to store your application definitions locally, then remove the URL.
  12. Click Add.
    Tip: Repeat the previous steps to add additional clusters.
  13. Click Done.
  14. The cluster is added successfully and it displays with a green tick mark.

Add a Cluster Using HTTPS

Add and establish a connection to the Access Web server using HTTPS so that you may begin submitting and monitoring jobs.

To add a cluster using HTTPS you will need:
  • The URL of an Access Web server with a valid set of credentials to connect.
This option uses HTTPS for all communication between Access Desktop and Access Web.
  1. Open the Windows system tray.
  2. Double-click the Access Desktop icon .
  3. Click .
  4. Select Clusters.
    A Clusters dialog box is displayed.
  5. Select HTTPS using the drop down box.


    Figure 2. Clusters
  6. For Cluster Display Name, enter a name for the cluster as it will be known within Access Desktop.
  7. Enter the Access Web URL in the format https://<login node name>:4443 where <LOGIN NODE NAME> is the host name of the machine where Access Web is installed.
  8. For User name, enter your user name.
  9. For Password, enter your password.
  10. Click Add.
    Tip: Repeat the previous steps to add an additional HTTPS cluster.
  11. Click Done.
    The cluster is added successfully and it displays with a green tick mark.
  12. Click on the top-right corner.
    The application updates the server and the solver applications automatically.

Log into Access Desktop

Login to Access Desktop to submit and monitor jobs.

After launching Access Desktop, a login screen is displayed if you have previously registered an HPC cluster without enabling Skip this next time option. To login to Access Desktop, you must login using your credentials for that HPC cluster. The HPC cluster that has been registered is displayed on the left.


Figure 3. Login Screen
  1. For Username, enter your username credential.
  2. Choose one of the following options:
    • Select Password from the drop down menu and enter your password.
    • Select SSH Key from the drop down menu and import the RSA private SSH key file.
  3. Optional: If you have chosen to enter your password, you may enable Skip this next time, so that you do not have to enter your credentials again.

    An SSH key is generated and stored allowing you to login to the cluster without having to enter your credentials.

You are logged into Access Desktop and can now start submitting jobs. The Access Desktop application can be accessed from the System Tray located in the Windows Taskbar.