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Overview

This article provides details and specifics for how to set up a Password-Free SSH key to connect to ARCC HPC Clusters from a Mac OS computer. Each key is associated with your identity on that HPC resource, therefore you do not need to create a new key for every client you use to ssh into the HPC.

If you’d like to configure a specific SSH connection application in Mac OS specific directions may be found below:

  • Configuring SSH Key Authentication in CyberDuck for Mac

Creating and Managing your SSH Keys with the SSH Key Manager

To set up access:

  1. First, log into the OnDemand resource for the HPC you want to set up SSH keys for.

    1. For MedicineBow, log in at https://medicinebow.arcc.uwyo.edu/. Step-by-step directions for logging into MedicineBow OnDemand are available here.

    2. For WildIris, log in at https://https://wiodm01.arcc.uwyo.edu/. Step-by-step directions for logging into WildIris OnDemand are available here.

  2. Once you’re logged in, you should be presented with the HPC Dashboard. Click the following icon to set up SSH key authentication:

  3. Each key is associated with your identity, therefore you do not need to create a new key for every client you use to ssh into the HPC.

    If you haven’t set up an SSH key previously, you should see an empty screen/list with the option to generate a new a key. Click that button if you need to set up a key.

    gennewkey.png

    Doing this will create a new set of files associated with your login to the HPC.

    If you’ve already created a key previously you don’t need another one. Skip this step and download a key you’ve already generated for your account as described in the next step.

  4. Click the download button associated with the key ID for your ssh key to download them to your client/computer.

    downloadkey.png

Please be careful with these files. Do not change their permissions, put them in an insecure digital location, or share them with others. They are your “virtual keys” to log in as yourself on the HPC. If provided to or shared with others, they will be able to log into that ARCC HPC resource as you

Configure keys on your Mac

  1. Unzip the files associated with your login.

  2. Open your terminal (finder.png → go.png → utilities.png → terminal.png or hit terminalkeys.png keys)

  3. Confirm you’re in your home directory by changing directories to your home with the following command: cd ~

  4. List the contents (including hidden items) of your home directory with the following command: ls -lah

  5. If you have a .ssh directory, it will be in this list. If you don’t have one, you will need to create one.

  6. To create a .ssh directory using the terminal run following command: ssh-keygen -t rsa. This will begin the key generation process.

  7. The utility will ask you where to store the key. To use the default location, leave this blank and hit Enter. A key pair will now be generated and output will look similar to the following screenshot:

    sshkeygen.png

  8. You will then be asked to create a passphrase. If you would like to create one, put that in now, and make note of it, since it will be required later. Otherwise, hit Enter to accept the default with no passphrase.

  9. Assuming the files you downloaded from <onDemand> were downloaded and extracted to your Downloads folder, copy your extracted files to your ssh folder with: cp ~/Downloads<username>/* ~/.ssh

  10. If your key has been configured properly, when you open a terminal and log into the cluster, you will be logged in automatically, and will not be prompted for a password (first factor), nor second factor authentication for login.

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