Difference between revisions of "Squiggles research computer server"

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Revision as of 20:06, 14 November 2023

Introduction

"Squiggles" is a dedicated research computer server tailored for the analysis and storage of MEG, Neurophysiology, and Epilepsy data. This guide outlines how to connect using either the recommended FastX connection or the traditional VNC method.

Access Requirements

RCC Account

  • An RCC (Research Computer Server) account is necessary to access "Squiggles".
  • Register for an account at MCW-Infoscope's Research Computing Center.
  • If prompted, select "others" and then "squiggles" to specify the server you wish to access.
  • Account approval generally takes 1-3 days. For any issues, contact Help-RCC at <help-rcc@mcw.edu>.

Login to Squiggles

Choosing a User Port: Each user is allocated a specific port number. New users should pick a port number (##) not already in use:

User Port
Jeff Stout 5910,5911
Joe Heffernan 5912
Candida Ustine 5914
Manoj Raghavan 5913
Chad Carlson 5915
Chris Anderson 5916
Serena Thompson 5917
Patrick Bauer 5918
Jeff Binder 5919
Leo Fernandino 5920
Lisa Conant 5921
Aqil Izadysadr 5922
Nick Guzowski 5923
Zack Harper 5924
Bill Gross 5925
Michelle Kassel 5926
Greg McQuestion 5927
Monica Keith 5928
Priyanka Shah 5929
Vahab Youssofzadeh 5931
Songhee Kim 5935
Cameron J Stewart 5992
SSH Tunneling
  • PowerShell Method (Mac/Linux/Windows): In a bash shell, terminal, or Windows PowerShell, execute the following to set up an SSH tunnel for the VNC Viewer:

ssh -L 59##:localhost:59## xxx@squiggles.rcc.mcw.edu where xxx is your rcc user name account

  • PuTTY (Windows):

Download PuTTY for SSH tunneling and refer to the images below for configuration:

PuTTY is an open-source software used for SSH Tunneling (or SSH Port Forwarding).

Putty config1.PNG Putty config2 tunnel.PNG

Starting a Session and Connecting to Squiggles

Ensure you've established an SSH tunnel before proceeding with either the VNC or FastX methods.

VNC Method (preferred)

  • Creating & Accessing a VNC Session:
    • VNC sessions initialize automatically upon boot-up.
    • If issues occur, manually initiate a session using: vncserver :## -geometry 1900x1200, where ## is your specific port number.
    • Access the session using the [RealVNC viewer].
    • Input localhost:## in the server address bar, where ## corresponds to the last two digits of your port.

Vncviewer.png

FastX Method (alternative)

FastX offers a potentially smoother experience compared to VNC, especially with multiple concurrent users.

  • Download the FastX client and:
    • Start FastX.
    • Click '+' to establish a new connection.
    • Provide the Connection Name, host (squiggles.rcc.mcw.edu), and your RCC username.
    • Start a session by clicking '+' and using the command /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc.

FastX config.png

Troubleshooting

  • VNC Black Screen: If you see a black screen after logging into VNC, make sure to deactivate Anaconda Python first. Use the command: conda deactivate.
  • Terminating (closing) a VNC session: Use vncserver -kill :xx in terminal. For manual termination:

rm -f /tmp/.Xxx-lock rm -f /tmp/.X11-unix/Xxx

  • Identifying Active Users: Use the command ls -l /tmp/.X11-unix.