Logging Into KLC#
There are four ways to connect to a KLC node:
KLC OnDemand — browser-based interface with no installation required
SSH — plain terminal connection
VS Code with the Remote-SSH extension — graphical editor built on top of an SSH connection
FastX — full graphical desktop
Choose a Connection Method#
Goal |
Recommended method |
|---|---|
Zero local setup; Jupyter, RStudio, or VS Code in the browser |
|
Scripts, automation, and reproducible command-line workflows |
|
Active code development with editor, terminal, and Git |
|
GUI-only software (MATLAB, Stata, SAS) |
FastX or KLC OnDemand GNOME Desktop |
Which One Should I Use?#
Start with KLC OnDemand when you want zero setup. It is browser-based — log in with your NetID and launch a graphical desktop, Jupyter, RStudio, or VS Code session directly. My Interactive Sessions tracks running sessions across nodes: log back in and reconnect regardless of which KLC node hosts the session. See KLC OnDemand for a full walkthrough.
Use plain SSH for work you will repeat or need to reproduce. A plain-text terminal connection is the fastest of the four options and pairs naturally with scripts, scheduled jobs, and version-controlled code. Point-and-click interfaces are convenient, but they do not leave behind a command history in the same way. On a shared research cluster, reproducibility matters — use SSH for routine work even when you also use graphical tools. See SSH for setup instructions.
Use VS Code with the Remote-SSH extension for active development. Under the hood it is still an SSH connection, so you keep the same reproducibility benefits, with a graphical editor, integrated terminal, file explorer, and Git/Copilot support. See VS Code for setup instructions.
Use FastX when you need a full graphical desktop outside the browser. Some software (MATLAB, Stata, SAS, or other GUI-only applications) needs a real X11 desktop. FastX sessions persist after disconnect, with these tradeoffs:
Graphical interfaces are slower than text terminals — a program that opens instantly over SSH can take several seconds over X11
FastX does not include file transfer; use Transferring Files or an SSH client with built-in transfer
Unlike KLC OnDemand, FastX does not list sessions across nodes — reconnect to the same KLC node where you launched the session
See FastX for connection details.
Default to SSH — plain or through VS Code — for day-to-day work. Use KLC OnDemand when you want zero setup, and FastX when you specifically need a graphical desktop application outside the browser.