To gain access to the cluster, you need to do two things:

1. Have your user account activated for the use of resources for scientific computing and
2. set up a Secure Shell (SSH) connection. The first part is described on this page, details on SSH connections can be found here.

Login to the cluster is done with your ZIMT ID.
It also describes how you can change your password from the cluster.

Note: Since May 2020, password access is only possible from the university network or the university VPN. Public key authentication is required from all other networks. Details can be found under Connect.

Requesting access as an employee

As an employee, you can apply for access yourself. To do this, you must carry out the following steps:

1. Log in to the user account administration
   with your ZIMT ID.
2. Click on "My options" on the left.
3. Select the option "Resources for scientific computing (OMNI)" via the "Book now" button.
4. Enter the relevant information here and confirm the terms of use.
5. Your application will now be processed further. You will receive a welcome e-mail with access information as soon as your account is activated for use. This usually happens the next day.

Applying for access as a student

Students can only use the Cluster if they are authorized by a member of staff (supervisor). The supervisor must have cluster access themselves. Access for students is limited to one year, but can be extended for one year as often as required and at any time. This can also be done by another collaborating person who is then assigned to the students as a supervisor.

Applying for access for students as a supervisor

As a member of staff (supervisor), you can authorize students to use the resources for scientific computing in the user account administration. You only need the student's e-mail address.

To add a student, carry out the following steps:

1. Log in to the user account administration
   with your ZIMT ID.
2. Click on "My options" on the left.
3. At the bottom of the "My options" page, you will find the "Release of options for third parties that may be subject to a fee".
4. There, select "Resources for scientific computing (OMNI) for students/employees" via the "For input" button.
5. In the next step, add one or more students or employees using their email addresses.
6. These persons will then receive an e-mail with an invitation to activate this option in the user account administration. There, the persons provide the relevant information and confirm the terms of use.
7. These applications are now processed further. Students receive a welcome e-mail with access information as soon as their account is activated for use. This usually happens the next day.
8. You can view your approvals in the user account administration. Approvals are only valid for 12 months.

Extending access for students as a supervisor

The extension is the same as a new application. With the new application/invitation of a student, their access is then valid for a further 12 months. The student's files are retained.

Gaining access as an external person

External users can gain access to the cluster. The following requirements must be met:

1. External users require a ZIMT account. The person responsible/supervisor for external users (chair holder, etc.) can apply for this via the ZIMT support desk.
2. The person responsible/supervisor for the externals must apply for cluster access. An informal email to support@zimt.uni-siegen.de is sufficient for this.
3. The external person signs the form with the ZIMT terms of use and sends it to ZIMT. The signed form can be sent as a scanned PDF file by e-mail to support@zimt.uni-siegen.de
   or attached to the existing ticket.
   Important: The identifier of the ZIMT account must be entered on the form. The form is therefore only complete once the external person has received their access data. Incomplete or incorrectly completed forms will be rejected.
4. The user must generate an SSH key pair and send this public key to ZIMT.

Change password:

Attention: If you change your password on the cluster, this change also applies to all other services that are linked to this user account (e.g.: Moodle, Webmail, eduroam, ...). The password can also be changed in the user account management
change.

Under Linux, you can change your own password with the passwd command.

If you enter the passwd command, you will first be asked for your current password. If the password is correct, you can enter the new password. The new password must be repeated to confirm.

Output of passwd:

$ passwd
Change password for user .
Current password: 
Enter a new password: 
Enter the new password again: 
passwd: all authentication features successfully updated.

Note: The password entry in the command line is not displayed, not even hidden as asterisks.