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Connecting with MobaXterm (Windows)

MobaXterm is an enhanced terminal for Windows with an X11 server, a tabbed SSH client, network tools and more.

Download and install

To download go to MobaXterm download page and download a free home edition.

Downloading MobaXterm

Pick the installer suiting best your current system and run it afterwards. Follow the instructions. You should see the following interface after starting the MobaXterm application.

First opening MobaXterm

Configure local settings

Select the menu entry "Settings" → "Configuration" or click the button "Settings" in the toolbar. A new window will open.

Settings in MobaXterm

Here you can set different options in the following tabs:

  • "General" - local path options for local MobaXterm-session,
  • "Terminal" - options, which alter your terminal, e.g. color scheme,
  • "X11" - options for X11-forwarding. It is enabled by default,
  • "SSH" - general SSH settings, e.g. keep-alive, SSH agent, browser-options,
  • "Display" - general display-options for the application,
  • "Toolbar" - customization of the toolbar,
  • "Misc" - options to alter specific actions inside the MobaXterm-application.

Start a new session

  1. Select the tab "Sessions" → "New session" or click the button "Session" in the toolbar.

    Opening a new session in MobaXterm

  2. Select a SSH section. Insert "Remote host" (login2.barnard.hpc.tu-dresden.de), "Username" (replace marie with your ZIH login), and "Port" 22. Using the button right from the username option, you can store and manage credentials. To access a different cluster, change the name accordingly (e.g.login1.alpha.hpc.tu-dresden.de)

    Settings for SSH connection in MobaXterm

  3. Advanced settings can be configured in the same window below. These are

    • "Advanced SSH settings" - set defaults for this specific session. For example, set a SSH key or change the remote environment,
    • "Terminal settings" - change terminal options,
    • "Network settings" - configure how the connection is built over the network. For example, by adding a proxy as gateway to the targeted system,
    • "Bookmark settings" - specify how the session will be saved to your session list, which is afterwards accessible by the button "Sessions".
  4. Start the session by clicking the button "OK".

    Your previous sessions are saved in the bookmarks and can be accessed via the menu entry "Sessions" → "User sessions". Alternatively, double click on one of the previous sessions on the left panel.

    Opening a saved session in MobaXterm

  5. The last thing to do is to input your ZIH password in the command line and to press enter. The entered symbols of your password are invisible and will not appear as typed in.

    Saving your password in MobaXterm

Caution

Do not forget to close the session after your jobs are finished. Just type exit in the command line and complete with pressing enter.