CLASSE-IT 2025 Summer Student Guide
Welcome to the CLASSE 2025
REU,
SERCCS,
SUnRiSE, and PREM programs. This how-to guide will get you started with IT resources at CLASSE.
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CLASSE User Account
Your
CLASSE account username is based on your Cornell
NetID, but you must give it a different password. A CLASSE account is required for all the services mentioned in this guide. If you have forgotten or need to reset your password please go to our
Password Self Service page.
CLASSE Duo
CLASSE has adopted the use of Duo two-factor authentication for enhanced security of web services and remote logins (ssh,
X2Go,
NoMachine, CLASSE VPN). CLASSE Duo uses the exact same app as
Cornell's Duo service (no new installation needed), although a separate CLASSE registration is required. To enroll and manage your two-factor devices, please log into the CLASSE Duo Device Manager with your CLASSE account:
Virtual Private Network (CLASSE VPN)
If your computer isn't connected directly to a CLASSE network, you might need to start the CLASSE VPN to access some CLASSE services. The Campus wireless networks are considered external to the Lab and thus will require use of the VPN.
For details and installation instructions, see
CLASSEVPN
CLASSE Remote Access Services
NoMachine is the preferred graphical remote access tool and is needed to run most Linux applications offered at CLASSE.
NoMachine can be used to access lnx201.classe.cornell.edu, our general-use remote login node. Any CPU or memory-intensive operations should be run on the CLASSE Compute Farm or on individual workstations,
not on lnx201.
Client Installation and Configuration
Download and install the free "NoMachine Enterprise Client" from:
https://www.nomachine.com/product&p=NoMachine%20Enterprise%20Client
Choose the configuration from the options below:
LNX201 - Remote node for general-use
- Download the "lnx201" configuration file by right-clicking and "Save File As..."-> lnx201
- Double-click on the downloaded file to launch NoMachine
- The first time connecting, click "Yes" to accept the remote host certificate and verify its identity.
- Login with your CLASSE username and password.
- Click on "Create a new desktop or custom session".
- Click on the "New Desktop" tab.
- Choose the default display settings.
- A virtual desktop session on lnx201 will open.
CLASSE Compute Farm - Remote node for CPU or memory-intensive applications (Mathmatica, Matlab, Ansys, etc)
- Download the "CLASSE_Grid" configuration file by right-clicking and "Save File As..."-> CLASSE_GRID
- Double-click on the downloaded file to launch NoMachine
- The first time connecting, click "Yes" to accept the remote host certificate and verify its identity.
- Login with your CLASSE username and password.
- Click on "Create a new desktop or custom session". A new window will appear titled "CLASSE GRID"
- Choose the application you want to run from the dropdown list
- Click on "Run".
Linux Applications at CLASSE
Ansys
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Terminal-xfce4 from the list of application in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run - This will open a new terminal window
- Type the command to open Ansys_2021R2:
/nfs/opt/ansys_2021-R2/bin/workbench
COMSOL
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Terminal-xfce4 from the list of application in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run - This will open a new terminal window
- Type the command to open COMSOL:
/nfs/opt/COMSOL/52/bin/comsol
GPT
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Terminal-xfce4 from the list of application in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run - This will open a new terminal window
- Type the command to open GPT (Please ask your mentor)
Linux Command Line (ls, cd, mv, find, grep etc)
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Terminal-xfce4 from the list of application in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run - This will open a new terminal window
- Type the command needed (see table below)
Command |
Task |
Example Syntax |
ls |
To list the files in a directory. |
ls [/tmp] |
cd |
To move into a directory. |
cd [/tmp] |
pwd |
To show current working directory. |
pwd |
cp |
To copy a file to another filename or into another directory. |
cp [file.txt] [/tmp/file.txt] |
mv |
To rename or move a file into another directory. |
mv [file.txt] [file1.txt] |
rm |
To delete a file. |
rm [file.txt] |
mkdir |
To create a directory. |
mkdir [mydir] |
find |
To find a file. |
find [/tmp] -name [file] |
grep |
To search for text string inside a file. |
grep [text] [/tmp/file.txt] |
less |
To view the text of a text file, one screen at a time |
less [/tmp/file.txt] |
man |
To see detailed information about command useage. |
man [ls] |
exit |
To exit and logout of a Terminal (Terminal-xfce4) session. |
exit |
Other useful shortcuts:
Mathematica
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Mathmatica from the list of applications in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run
Matlab
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Matlab from the list of applications in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run
Thunar - The Linux File Explorer
Like the "Windows File Explorer",
Thunar is a modern file manager.
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Thunar from the list of applications in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run
Text Editors
For a list of available text editors, please see
TextEditors. To use any of these editors, simply select it in the
CLASSE Grid Session menu. Any editor can also be launched from the
Linux command line interface.
How To Launch
Emacs:
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Emacs from the list of applications in the dropdown menu
- Click on Run
How To Launch
Visual Studio Code:
- Connect to your CLASSE Grid Session in NoMachine
- Select Terminal-xfce4 from the list of application in the dropdown menu
- Type the command:
code
File Storage at CLASSE
IMPORTANT: To access CLASSE's central file storage, you must be on a CLASSE network. If your computer is connected to RedRover, eduroam or any other non-CLASSE network, please first connect to the CLASSE VPN.
Project Files
Most files should stored in the dedicated project space allocated to each research group. Please consult with your mentor on where to store your data and the exact path to any project files that you might need.
User Files
In addition to dedicated project space, user files can be stored in your directory on our UserDisk. Please note that your user directory has a 5 GB quota, so most of your work should be stored in dedicated project areas as described above. Finally, your HomeDisk has a 1 GB quota and should be reserved for essential Linux files like login scripts, browser preferences, source code, etc. Please read
HomeDisk,
UserDisk, and
DataStewardship for more information.
Operating System |
Share point |
Path (userid = your username) |
Linux |
UserDisk |
/nfs/user/userid |
|
HomeDisk |
/home/userid |
Windows 10 |
UserDisk |
\\samba.classe.cornell.edu\user\userid |
|
HomeDisk |
\\samba.classe.cornell.edu\home\userid |
macOS |
UserDisk |
smb://samba.classe.cornell.edu/user/userid |
|
HomeDisk |
smb://samba.classe.cornell.edu/home/userid |
Accessing Files from Offsite
Connectivity and performance to the file locations above is very dependent on the quality of your internet connection. Because of these performance issues, we
highly recommend using Globus when accessing files from outside the lab.
Globus
Globus is a high-speed file transfer system that was originally developed for Grid computing applications. You can use it to copy data remotely from CLASSE central storage to your local computer by following the instructions below:
- Browse to https://www.globus.org
- Click on "Log In" in the upper-right corner.
- Use the scroll-down menu to find Cornell University and then login with your Cornell NetID.
- Install Globus Connect personal (For detailed instructions with screenshots see here: https://www.globus.org/globus-connect-personal.)
- Connect to a CLASSE endpoint
- Click on "Manage Data", and select "Transfer Files".
- Click on "Start here ..." and type classe into the search box. You should see the endpoint for "CLASSE" with a path of "/~/".
- Select a CLASSE endpoint (add infor for "project path") and log in with your CLASSE credentials.
- Connect to your personal endpoint
- Click on "Manage Data", and select "Transfer Files".
- Click on the second "Endpoint" box, and then the "My Endpoints" tab.
- Select the personal endpoint you set up in Step II above.
- Note that Globus Connect Personal must be running on your computer.
- Transfer Files
- Navigate through the folders/directories on both endpoints, and use the arrow buttons to transfer data back and forth as desired.
- To monitor the progress of a data transfer, click on "Activity".
- You will receive an email after each transfer has completed.
Printing at CLASSE
IMPORTANT: To print to a CLASSE printer, you must be on a CLASSE network. If your computer is connected to RedRover, eduroam or any other non-CLASSE network, please first connect to the CLASSE VPN.
Printing from Windows
To add a printer to non-CLASSE managed Win 10 systems:
- Browse to PrinterLogic Cloud using Vivaldi:
- Log in with your CLASSE credentials.
- When prompted install the browser extension.
- Then install the PrinterLogic cloud client software.
- Browse by building for the printer you want to add.
- Click on the Printer Name you want to add.
- Say "Yes" to install the printer.
Printing from macOS
To add a printer to all macOS systems
Click on the Apple menu in the upper left of your screen and select System Preferences
- Click on the Printers & Scanners (10.7.x and later) or Print & Fax (10.6.x and earlier)
- Click on the + in the lower left
- The add printer window will appear...click on the IPicon (3rd icon from left)
- for Address: Enter cups.classe.cornell.edu for LPR Printer's Address.
- for Protocol: make sure Line Printer Daemon - LPD is selected (NOT "Internet Printing Protocol - IPP," etc.)
- for Queue: Enter the Printer name for the printer you would like installed. Please refer to our PrinterList for the correct name.
- for Name: Enter the same Queue name that you entered above
- for Location: Enter the room location of the printer, e.g. W229
- for Use: Select Generic PostScript Printer (preferred)
Computing Policies and Guidelines
Think before you click!
We see fraudulent emails every day, and they can be quite sophisticated, even appearing to come from someone you know. Make sure you are on a Cornell website before typing in your Cornell password. When in doubt:
Getting Help
If you have any computing questions:
For help with central Cornell services, contact
IT@Cornell.
Notes for CLASSE Mentors