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How to Connect

This page provides instructions for connecting to the XLence cluster.

I Just Want to Download NGS Data

If you only need to download your NGS sequencing data without using the cluster for computing, you can use graphical SFTP clients:

👉 See: SFTP File Transfer Clients for step-by-step instructions on: - Cyberduck (Windows, macOS) - FileZilla (Windows, macOS, Linux) - WinSCP (Windows)

These tools provide a simple drag-and-drop interface for downloading files.

SSH Connection (For Cluster Computing)

If you need to submit jobs, run computations, or access the cluster via command line, continue reading.

Prerequisites

Before connecting, ensure you have: - A cluster account (see How to Get Access) - SSH client installed on your computer - Your login credentials

Login Node

Connect to the cluster using the login node:

Hostname: xlence.disfeb.unimi.it

Jobs submitted to the queue will run on compute nodes automatically.

Connecting from Linux/macOS

Basic SSH Connection

Open a terminal and run:

ssh username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it

Replace username with your cluster username.

Connecting from Windows

Windows 10/11 includes a modern terminal with built-in OpenSSH support.

Open Windows Terminal or PowerShell:

ssh username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it

Windows Terminal provides: - Multiple tabs - Modern interface - Built-in SSH support - Copy/paste support

Using SSH keys is more secure and convenient than password authentication.

Generate SSH Keys

On Linux/macOS:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -N "" -C "your_email@example.com"

On Windows:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -N "" -C "your_email@example.com"

This generates a passwordless SSH key pair in ~/.ssh/.

Copy Public Key to Cluster

Manual method (all platforms):

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub | ssh username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

After this, you can connect without entering your password each time.

SSH Configuration File (Optional)

Create or edit ~/.ssh/config on your local machine:

Host xlence
    HostName xlence.disfeb.unimi.it
    User your_username
    ServerAliveInterval 60
    ServerAliveCountMax 3

Then connect simply with:

ssh xlence

This saves typing and remembers your settings.

Note: You can add additional options (like ForwardX11 yes) if needed for your specific use case.

Remote Desktop Clients (For GUI Applications)

If you need to run graphical applications on the cluster (VMD, molecular visualization, etc.), see:

👉 Remote Desktop Clients for information on: - Bitvise SSH Client (Windows) - Windows App (macOS) - Remmina (Linux)

Transferring Files via Command Line

Using SCP

Upload to cluster:

scp local_file username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it:/path/on/cluster/

Download from cluster:

scp username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it:/path/on/cluster/file local_destination/

Using SFTP

sftp username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it

Interactive commands: - ls - list remote files - cd - change remote directory - get file - download file - put file - upload file - exit - quit

# Upload
rsync -avz --progress local_directory/ username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it:/remote/path/

# Download
rsync -avz --progress username@xlence.disfeb.unimi.it:/remote/path/ local_directory/

For graphical file transfer, see SFTP File Transfer Clients.

Troubleshooting

Connection Timeout

  • Check your network connection
  • Verify the hostname is correct: xlence.disfeb.unimi.it
  • Contact administrators if the issue persists

Permission Denied

  • Verify your username
  • Check if your account is active
  • Ensure SSH keys are properly configured

Can't Find SSH Command (Windows)

  • Windows 10/11: OpenSSH should be pre-installed
  • If missing, enable in: Settings → Apps → Optional Features → OpenSSH Client
  • Or use Windows Terminal from Microsoft Store

Security Best Practices

  1. Never share your credentials with anyone
  2. Use SSH keys instead of passwords when possible
  3. Keep your SSH keys secure with a passphrase
  4. Log out when finished: exit or logout
  5. Report suspicious activity to administrators

Getting Help

For connection issues or questions:

Next Steps

Once connected, see: - Software and Modules - Available software - Job Scheduling with Slurm - Submit computational jobs - Cluster Description - Hardware and resources

Last Updated: October 2025