Last update: Mar 9, 2022 (verified with MobaXterm 21.5 Personal)
The aim of this page is to explain how to login to RCSS supercomputer using MobaXterm.
Launch MobaXterm and select MobaKeyGen (SSH key generator) from "Tools" menu. If you already have PuTTY session settings (in registry?), they will be automatically loaded on left pane of the window. This PuTTY setting may be usable.
You may see window like above when you invoke MobaKeyGen (SSH Key Generator).
EdDSA (Ed25519), ECDSA (256, 384, 521 bits), and RSA 4096 bits* of keys are recommended in RCCS. Please choose EdDSA (Ed25519) if you have no preference.
Please don't choose Ed448. This type is not yet available on RCCS frontend node.
*Old MobaXterm Personal versions do not support SHA2 algorithms of RSA (rsa-sha2-256/512). Please use newer version of MobaXterm.
In case of EdDSA, ECDSA or RSA type, you may find optional item at the position specified by "2". Please choose/input value there.
Please don't choose Ed448. This is not available on RCCS frontend node.
Once you click the "Generate" button, the key generation will begin. You need to move mouse cursor around to proceed the key generation after clicking the button.
Once the key generation completed, the appearance of the window will change like above.
The public key shown as a string in this field is what we need. Extract all the contents in this filed into notepad or others, and then save it! (Do not miss ssh-/ecdsa- part in the beginning!) Note: you don't need public key from "Save public key" button; we need only OpenSSH format one.
You can rebuild public keys via "Load" button or "Conversion" menu if you still have private key. (If you lost the private key, you need to generate a new key.)
You can set passphrase for private key here. We, RCCS, recommend passphrase of 10 or more characters containing 4 types of characters - "lower-case", "upper-case", "number", and "symbol".
After setting passphrase, click "Save private key" button to save the key. Easy-to-understand name such as "rccs.ppk" or "ccfep.ppk" may be a good choice. (NOTE: THE PRIVATE KEY FILE MUST BE KEPT SECRET!)
You need to register the public key before login. Please register your public key according to the instructions in https://ccportal.ims.ac.jp/en/account.
Please note that the public key here is an OpenSSH type one, not the one from "Save public key" button.
Quit MobaKeyGen (or restart MobaXterm) to go back to the MobaXterm window. Click "Session" button on top-left part of the window to create a new session.
Theh, Click "SSH" to create a new SSH session.
You need to complete following settings in this page.
After the connection, you need to input passphrase of private key.
Note: MobaXterm skips verification of the connecting host in default. This verification can be enabled by checking "Validate host identity at first connection" item in SSH tab of "Settings" -> "Configuration" menu. Valid fingerprints of the frontend node are listed below.
You may see window like above if you successfully logged in.
MobaXterm has SFTP functionality. In the left pane of the window (marked with red square), you can download/upload files via SFTP.
MobaXterm has internal X server. Therefore, you can use X window application without special settings. ("X11-forwarding" item must be checked in the message displayed upon successful login.)