See also

• Using CU's VPN

File mounting via ssh

Access to CCB's clusters (and other Linux-based servers) managed by ChemIT is done via SSH. That meets many researchers needs as-is.

However, sometimes a researcher would benefit from mounting the cluster to their desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux). As a courtesy, here are links to tools one can install on a desktop (Windows, Mac) to enable this:

• httpshttp://www.eldossftpnetdrive.com/sftp-net-drive/comparison.php (Windows only. The free version is used by two researchers in CCB already, for this purpose)
  • http://linhost.info/2012/09/sshfs-in-windows/ (perhaps useful install how-to)
• http://osxfuse.github.io/ (Mac only; free. Must download both FUSE and SSHFS from this site.)
  • https://github.com/osxfuse/osxfuse/wiki/SSHFS
• sshfs(1) - Linux man page (Linux, Mac; via FUSE)
• http://www.webdrive.com/purchase/ (Mac and Windows; no free version)
• http://www.expandrive.com/expandrive (Mac and Windows (Linux coming?); no free version)
  • https://secure.expandrive.com/store
• http://panic.com/transmit/ (Mac only; no free version)
• http://dokan-dev.net/en/about/ (Windows only; free)
  • http://dokan-dev.net/en/download/
  • http://dokan-dev.net/en/2011/01/12/dokan-sshfs-0-6-0-released/ (This most recent post, as of 2/13/15, is from Jan 2011, re: v.0.6.0. Beware of obsolescence!)

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• Please let ChemIT know how well the above referred-to tools work (or don't work!) for you so we can share your experience with other researchers.
• Also, please let us know know how this page can change. For example, add links to other tools or resources. Your colleagues and other researchers will thank you!

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File mounting with differing formats

Between Mac, Linux, and Windows there are many different types of file formats used. Listed here are some tools to help maintain the flow of information between systems. These tools are primarily used for direct connections, while the above are for networked access

• http://www.paragon-drivers.com/extfs-windows/ (Windows only; for access to ext- based file formats commonly used in Linux environments)

Real-world examples from a researcher in CCB

Ubuntu and Mac OS, Feb. 2015

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• Detailed directions from one user using Ubuntu and Mac OAS and successfully manual-mounting their home directory on their cluster's head node

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• .

Desires auto-mount.
Questions from ChemIT regarding this need:

• If on a laptop, what is the expected failure mode when system tries to auto-mount when off-campus, before VPN has been started, following user logging into their laptop's account?
• And, is it OK to have user's cluster's p/w in clear text (within fstab), even if only accessible by root?

This is what user tried, but it did not work:
He tried adding the following line to /etc/fstab (for automatic mount):

sshfs#[NetID]@[machinename].chem.cornell.edu:/home/[NetID] /home/whateever/youwant fuse defaults,idmap=user 0 0
He reports having to run the "sudo mount -a" command (to execute mount of all of /etc/fstab). This method first asks for the user's cluster password (i.e. it disregard the .ssh key), it then mounts the whole thing inaccurately, so that privileges show as "?".