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Connecting to the cluster

data-transfer-cli

Network Requirements

  • Local - If you are attempting to access BMRC services from Oxford eduroam or a wired connection within a University property (excluding some colleges), no further action is required.
  • Remote - If you are attempting to access the services from a remote network connection ( home,etc), please make sure the device is connected to Oxford or MSD vpn

First Time Login - Setting a New Cluster Password

On your first login to the BMRC cluster, you will be required to replace your temporary password with a new cluster password.

Before you begin

This guide assumes that:

  • You have received a temporary password by email from the KIR Research Computing Manage OR BMRC Team
  • You have set up two-factor authentication (2FA) by scanning the QR code provided by the KIR Research Computing Manager. Any authenticator app may be used (e.g. Microsoft Authenticator, Authy, Google Authenticator).

Connecting to the cluster

Open a terminal and run the following command, replacing bmrcusername with your BMRC username:

ssh bmrcusername@cluster1.bmrc.ox.ac.uk

Tip

No characters are displayed while you type a password. This is expected behaviour.

The password reset then follows a three-step process.

Authenticate with your temporary password

You will be prompted for two factors:

Prompt What to enter
First Factor The temporary password sent to you by email. Copying and pasting it is recommended.
Second Factor The current six-digit token from your 2FA app, without spaces.

Confirm your current password

You will see a message stating that your password has expired, followed by these prompts:

Wait for a new token

Before completing the Second Factor prompt in Step 2, wait until your 2FA app displays a new six-digit token. Re-entering the token used in Step 1 will cause the password reset to fail.

Prompt What to enter
Current Password The same temporary password used in Step 1.
Second Factor A new six-digit token from your 2FA app.

Set your new password

You will be prompted to enter your New Password and then to confirm it.

The new password must meet the same requirements as your University SSO password:

  • At least 16 characters
  • At least one upper-case letter
  • At least one lower-case letter
  • At least one digit
  • At least one special character

If the password reset fails

If the reset is unsuccessful, the process returns to Step 1, and you will need to repeat Steps 1 to 3.

The two most common causes of a failed reset are:

  1. Entering the same six-digit token at the Second Factor prompt in both Step 1 and Step 2.
  2. A mismatch between the new password and its confirmation entry.

Successful login

Once your password has been changed successfully, you will be logged into the cluster1 login node, and your terminal prompt will change to show your username and the node name, for example:

[bmrcusername@cluster1 ~]$

Use your new cluster password, together with a 2FA token, for all future logins.