Uchicago Biocomputing

Bioinformatics Research Development Facility

GET STARTED

Eligibility

o The Biomedical-informatics Research Development Facility is a BSD divisional resource. It supports a large number of research applications on a variety of platforms including Windows, Linux, and Solaris. Large scale problems can utilize cluster computing. User accounts are granted to all members of the BSD as well as their collaborators (both inside U. of Chicago and out).

o Requests for a user account should be sent from the user’s BSD e-mail address. BSD users without BSD e-mail must apply for a BSD address as we issue ID’s based on matching the BSD’s ID. PI’s should identify themselves as such, if you do not hold a faculty appointment then your departmental chair should verify your PI status. Other members should identify themselves as affiliated with a faculty member at the time of the request. Potential Users who are members of U. of Chicago who collaborate with BSD faculty should indicate who they collaborate with and have that faculty member sponsor the request. Potential Users who are not part of the U. of Chicago that collaborate with BSD faculty should also have the faculty member sponsor the request and include how long the collaboration will exist. Note that the e-mail of the potential outside user should be from an institution, we cannot utilize address such as g-mail or hotmail. User accounts issued to people who are not directly affiliated with the U. of Chicago will expire not later than one year after issue. Those accounts can be extended by a renewal request by the sponsoring faculty member.

o The default e-mail address for BSD users will be their BSD e-mail address, however, BSD users can request that e-mail be sent to an alternate U. of Chicago e-mail address. Collaborators from U. of Chicago must supply a U. of Chicago e-mail address. Only faculty sponsored collaborators can utilize non U. of Chicago e-mail address in the case they do not have one. Note that if e-mail is bounced by the registered address that the account will be disabled until a current valid e-mail address is obtained.

o Requests should be sent to sysops@ccmail.uchicago.edu for new accounts. Accounts are normally issued within two business days after we receive all necessary information.

Get An Account

o The first step in using the biocomputing resources is to get an account.

o Please email sysops with the information requested below with the email subject line reading "New Account".

§ Full Name.

§ Email - BSD email (preferred) or Uchicago email.

§ Lab affiliation.

o After you obtain your username and temporary password, you need to change your password, see instructions for more information.

How to Login

o Linux Servers:

§ SSH client: If you are using a linux machine you are already a step ahead. If you are looking to connect from a windows machine, please make sure you have a SSH client program on your computer. You can download the SSH program from the NSIT licensing website.

§ On a linux machine - Type "ssh -X brdfgate.uchicago.edu" at the command line and hit ENTER. Type in your username and password when prompted. Once logged in to brdfgate, ‘ssh’ to the linux server you would like to work on. Example: ssh –X brdfapps.uchicago.cc (or just 'brdfapps' from inside brdfgate).

§ On a Windows machine - Open the SSH program and type in the hostname (brdfgate.uchicago.edu) your username and password. After logging into brdfgate, 'ssh' to any of the linux servers.

§ For a list of linux servers that can be accessed, please look in Resources page.

o Windows Server:

§ The only windows server available for users is "brdfwapps.uchicago.edu".

§ You can connect to "brdfwapps" using the "Remote Desktop Connection"(RDC) feature in your Windows XP system.The RDC is located under start->Accessories-> Communications menu.

§ Open RDC and enter "brdfwapps.uchicago.edu".

§ Enter username and password.

Working on the Cluster

o The production cluster available for users is called "brdfcluster.uchicago.cc".

o To login follow the steps under "How to Login to linux servers" above.