Merrimanlab Remote Working

VPN access

Credentials to use are your email/webkiosk

How to Install VPN:
Download Cisco AnyConnect from here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/its/services/network/otago038027.html

New process: https://otago.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2113

After you’ve gone through this process every time you want your home internet to pretend it is at uni open Cisco AnyConnect & tell it to connect to UO-VPN-SSL, then just use your internet like usual.

For students we will have to request your username be allowed VPN access, dependent on whether the uni devises another acceptable way for you to access our servers.

Servers

Need to be on VPN or Uni network to access

Credentials to use are your Biochem ones, i.e. for printing

General biochem servers

• biochemcompute.uod.otago.ac.nz
• biochemcompute1.uod.otago.ac.nz
• biochemcompute2.otago.ac.nz
• biochemcompute3.uod.otago.ac.nz

Merriman exclusive

• biocmerriserver1.otago.ac.nz
• biocmerriserver2.otago.ac.nz

Important XSan directories:

• Not backed up

  • /Volumes/scratch/merrimanlab

• Backed up

  • /Volumes/archive/merrimanlab
  • /Volumes/userdata/staff_groups/merrimanlab

Check server load

Check how much a particular server is getting used by looking at the status webpage:

In your web browser use the url http://<server>:19999

Avoid servers that are above 75% CPU usage if possible. General biochem servers are likely to have the most people trying to use them.

ssh and Tmux

Username and password are your biochem credentials

ssh <biochem username>@<server>

It would be recommended to use Tmux for operating on the server which lets your session remain running even if you disconnect.

Basic usage:

• First login
  • ssh -t <biochem username>@<server> tmux
• Subsequent logins
  • ssh -t <biochem username>@<server> tmux attach

This will let you close disconnect/close your window without your session on the server closing and let you pick up where you left off.

Additional tmux commands can be found here: tmux shortcuts & cheatsheet

Data transfer

Avoid using scp between your machine and the server while on VPN

Use instead:

• Globus
• CloudStor (similar to dropbox)
• Citrix reciever (student/staff desktop)
  • Doesn’t have access to XSan
• OneDrive (inc MS Teams)
  • Doesn’t have access to XSan

Globus settings

1. Create new Globus account: https://www.globusid.org/create
2. Download Globus Connect Personal.
3. On the File Manager side tab, search in the Collection search bar, search for UoO_Biochemistry and use your biochem credentials to log in.
4. Use Globus Connect Personal GUI to connect to biochem server and transfer files.

How-to article on setting up Globus for file transfer to/from biochem server. (might not be current)

Cloudstor

Needs (complex?) further configuration in order to be able to transfer data to/from XSan

Similar to dropbox for sending data to/from other people offers 1 TB of storage

Rstudio server

Use any of these to use RStudio and operate on data that is stored on the XSan

Put url in your web browser after connecting to VPN

http://biochemcompute.otago.ac.nz:8787
http://biochemcompute.otago.ac.nz:8787

http://biocmerriserver1.otago.ac.nz:8787
http://biocmerriserver2.otago.ac.nz:8787

One of the limitations is that you can only have a single project open at a time and if you use a different server url it disconnects the current server and loads the project up in the new one (possible benefit if the server your start on starts to get used heaps you can migrate servers easily)

Social connectivity

Zoom

How to install Zoom:
The uni has made a video here: https://blogs.otago.ac.nz/zoom/how-to-install-zoom/

When (if) zoom lab meetings go ahead I will send around a meeting link for everyone to connect to the zoom call - all you will need to do is click this link & your zoom app should open and ask if you want to link to the meeting.

For those whose turn it is to present I will send more info about how to share your slides with everyone too.

You will need to check that your computer has a microphone to use zoom - if you do not have a web cam on your computer that is no drama, you should still be able to share your computer screen via zoom (if you’re presenting), and see everyone else, we just won’t be able to see you. 🙁

Log in using the ‘SSO’ option and use “otago” as the zoom domain. You’ll be taken to a Uni log in portal where you use your email/webkiosk credentials

Create on demand Zoom meetings

Person creating:

1. Open Zoom
2. Click “Start with Video” or “Start Without Video”
3. Click invite (at bottom)
4. email or copy the url (bottom left of window)

Joining:

1. click the shared url

Zoom tips/tricks

https://www.groovehq.com/blog/zoom-tips-and-tricks

Slack

Credentials are whatever you used when joining up

workspace: merrimanlab.slack.com

MS Teams

This is what the Uni is trying to transition to for things like having shared word/excel documents

It is extremely similar to slack except:

• live file sharing/collaboration
• conversations on documents
• chat history doesn’t have a limit and is saved