Workshops using Nectar Instances

Last updated on 2025-08-18 | Edit this page

Authors: Melbourne Bioinformatics

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Overview

The workshop you will be doing will run on a Nectar Instance. An “Instance” is Nectar terminology for a virtual machine running on the Nectar Cloud OpenStack infrastructure. An “Instance” runs on a “compute node”; i.e. a physical computer populated with processor chips, memory chips and so on.

Objectives

  • Understand what a Nectar Instance is and how it relates to the Nectar Cloud infrastructure.
  • Identify the software required to access Nectar Instances on Mac and Windows systems.
  • Successfully log in to a Nectar Instance using SSH on both Mac and Windows.
  • Transfer files between a local machine and a Nectar Instance using SCP or file transfer software.
  • Test your connection by transferring a test file (test_transfer.txt) from the instance to your local computer.
  • Understand the purpose of byobu-screen and use it to maintain long-running sessions:
    • Start a named byobu-screen session.
    • Reconnect to a screen session after disconnection.
    • Detach and terminate a screen session safely.
  • Know how to apply for your own Nectar allocation to run independent tutorials in the future.

Logging on to a Nectar Instance

You will be given an individual username, IP address and password to log on to using the SSH client tool on your computer (Terminal on Mac or PuTTY on Windows).

  • Host: The IP address of the Nectar Instance
  • Username: alpha | beta | gamma | delta | epsilon | zeta
  • Port: 22
  • Password: Provided to you separately
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Attention

  • Follow the instructions for your operating system carefully.
  • Repeated failed log in attempts might result in being locked out of the account.

Mac Users

In Terminal, type: ssh username@nectar_ip-address

You will be prompted to enter your password. After you have entered your password, hit return.

You won’t receive feedback when entering your password. Rest assured it is being entered as you type it (or paste it in). Hit return after you have typed the whole password.

Windows Users:

In PuTTY, enter the IP address as the host name and 22 for the port.

After you click “Open” you’ll be prompted to type the username you have been assigned (i.e. alpha | beta | gamma | delta | epsilon | zeta). Press enter. You will then be prompted for the password that has been given to you. Press enter.

You won’t receive feedback when entering your password. Rest assured it is being entered as you type it (or paste it in). Hit enter after you have typed the whole password.

PuTTY has a different shortcut for paste compared to what you may be used to. Instead of ctrl-v, try right-clicking in the password field to paste the contents of your clipboard.