Data Transfer With Desktop Clients

If a web-based application or command line options are not a fit for your workflow, desktop clients are another option to transfer data. While these options are not ARCC provided tools, we have tested many of them and can provide some support for users of them. Clients that ARCC have tested are MobaXTerm, Cyberduck, and Cloudberry (MSP 360 explorer), but for this section of the workshop, we will only use Cyberduck in our examples due to it being available for Windows and Mac operating systems. Before getting into the use of Cyberduck, understanding of transfer protocols is key to the use of these tools and will be discussed first.



Transfer Protocols

While the term ‘transfer protocol’ may sound like IT jargon, most people use one everyday. In fact, if you are reading this on your computer you are using the https protocol over the internet to transfer this information onto your browser. There are dozens more transfer protocols, but here we will only talk about some key ones that are used by ARCC everyday.

  • SFTP - or the SSH File Transfer Protocol, is an extension of the secure shell protocol that allows for a range of operations on remote files which make it more like a remote file system protocol. SFTP’s extra capabilities include resuming interrupted transfers, directory listings, and remote file removal.

  • S3 - or Amazon S3, was intially developed for Amazon’s web services, but has been a widely adopted protocol for other companies and services. S3 works for object type storage with terms like buckets, secret key, and access key for accessing and transferring data.

  • SMB - or Server Message Block, is a communication protocol developed by Microsoft, that enables file transfers over a shared network. SMB can be used by applications that come default on Windows with File Explorer, Mac Finder, or whatever Linux file navigator you may have.


ARCC Tested Data Transfer Clients

As mentioned above, ARCC has tested the following clients and can provide some support for users of these clients:

  • MobaXTerm - is a Windows only client that can be used for ssh logins as well as many other protocols, but is also an excellent SFTP client.

  • Cyberduck - is another client that can be used by Windows and Mac, that we frequently use for working with data on our Pathfinder system due to how well it works with the S3 protocol, but can use many other protocols

  • Cloudberry - is another Windows and Mac client that can use the S3 protocol, but requires a license to take advantage of it’s full functionality.

WARNING: You must already have an ARCC account, two factor enabled, and ssh keys or accesskey/secretkey combo prior to attempting to use a desktop client to transfer data!


Connecting to MedicineBow with a Client

With a Client (Cyberduck in this example) you will want to connect to MedicineBow using the SFTP protocol to transfer data.

  • Click the “Open Connection” icon

  • Select SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol)

 

You will need to have your ssh keys downloaded prior to connecting

image-20240710-182945.png

 


Logging into MedicineBow With a Client

Once SFTP is selected (Cyberduck in this example) you will need to enter the following information:

  • Server: medicinebow.arcc.uwyo.edu

  • UWYO username

  • Password

  • Choose the file that is your ssh key. (This example is using Windows and a key tip when looking in your .ssh folder is to select “show all files”

 

You will need to have your ssh keys downloaded prior to connecting

 

image-20240710-183356.png

 


Transferring Data with a Client

Once SFTP is connected (Cyberduck in this example) you will be connected to your home directory on MedicineBow

  • From here you can navigate to anywhere that you have access to.

  • To transfer a file you can click the upload icon, or simply “drag and drop” a file from your computer

 

 

The process is similar for using Pathfinder, but will use the S3 protocol and accesskey/secretkey combo instead of a username, password, ssh key for MedicineBow.


Next Steps