Body
Questions
- How do I use the HPC Web Portal?
- What is Open OnDemand at Bowdoin?
- How do I access graphical applications on the HPC cluster?
- How do I open a command-line session on the HPC cluster from a web browser?
- How do I browse and upload files on the HPC environment?
- How do I run MATLAB or GaussView through the HPC Web Portal?
- How do I view my active jobs on the HPC cluster?
- What browsers work with the HPC Web Portal?
- Why can I not access hpcweb.bowdoin.edu?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin faculty, students, and researchers using the HPC Web Portal at hpcweb.bowdoin.edu. The portal works with Firefox and Chrome (Chromium). It does not work with Safari. A VPN connection is required when accessing the portal from off campus.
Resolution
Log In to the HPC Web Portal
- Open Firefox or Chrome and go to
hpcweb.bowdoin.edu.
- Log in with your Bowdoin account name only (for example,
jsmith, not jsmith@bowdoin.edu).
Off-campus access: Connect to the Bowdoin VPN before accessing the HPC Web Portal from off campus. See VPN at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.
Open a Command-Line Session on the Slurm Cluster
- Click Clusters at the top of the screen.
- Click Bowdoin Slurm HPC Cluster Shell Access.
This opens a command-line session on moosehead.bowdoin.edu, the Slurm cluster headnode. From this shell, you can run Slurm commands such as sbatch, squeue, and scancel. See Submit and Manage Jobs on the HPC Slurm Cluster in the Related Articles section for job submission details.
Run Graphical Applications (HPC Linux Desktop Session)
The HPC Web Portal can launch graphical (GUI) applications such as MATLAB and Gaussian GaussView through a Linux desktop session running in your browser.
- From the HPC Web Portal, click Interactive Apps at the top of the screen.
- Select Bowdoin HPC Desktop.
- Set the number of hours you need, then click the blue Launch Bowdoin HPC Desktop button.
- A Linux GUI desktop environment will appear in your browser.
- In the upper left of the desktop, click the Applications menu, then the Bowdoin menu, and select the graphical application you want to run.
- When finished, go to System in the top menu bar and select Log Out to close the Linux desktop session.
Note: Logging out of the Linux Desktop Session does not log you out of the HPC Web Portal. You will still be logged into the portal and can start a new session or use other portal features.
Browse and Manage Files
The Web Portal includes a file browser for working with files stored in the HPC environment.
- Home directory: Select Files from the top menu bar and choose Home Directory.
- Research space: Select Files from the top menu bar and choose /mnt/research, then double-click on your research directory.
- Any directory: From within the file browser, click the Go To button at the top, type the full path in the pop-up window, and click OK.
To upload files (up to 5 GB per file), click the Upload button at the top of the file browser, click Browse, and select files from your local computer. For files larger than 5 GB, use SFTP or mount the filesystem directly. See Transfer Files to and from the HPC Environment in the Related Articles section.
To download a file, select it in the file browser and click the Download button above the file list.
To edit a file, click the ... to the right of the filename and select Edit. Click the blue Save button in the upper left when finished. Close the browser tab to exit the editor.
To create a new directory, click the New Directory button at the top and type a name for the directory.
View Active HPC Jobs
Click Jobs from the top menu bar, then select Active Jobs to see jobs running on the HPC cluster. You can toggle between Your Jobs and All Jobs to change the view.
Submitting Jobs
The Web Portal's built-in Job Composer is currently disabled. To submit jobs, open a Bowdoin Slurm HPC Cluster Shell (described above) and use the sbatch command from the command line. See Submit and Manage Jobs on the HPC Slurm Cluster in the Related Articles section.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.