Access and Authentication

Last updated: 2026-06-04

Tip

If you are new to HPC clusters, read the Understanding the Cluster section first.

Environment

• Users who need to access HPC4 or SuperPOD for the first time

• Windows 10/11, macOS, or Linux

• SSH client or other approved remote access tools

Account Application

Both HPC4 and SuperPOD accounts are available to HKUST researchers. Applications must be sponsored by a principal investigator (PI), who must be a HKUST faculty member. Account names and passwords are the same as your HKUST credentials.

• HPC4: Account Application Form

• SuperPOD: Account Application Form

Students should ask their supervisor (PI) to submit the application on their behalf. A PI must also apply for an account if they need direct access.

Note

For teaching / courses: if you need HPC resources for an instructor-led course, contact cchelp@ust.hk and specify your course code and computing resource requirements.

Login Methods

Both clusters support password and public-key SSH authentication. Password authentication requires Duo MFA as a second factor — enroll in Duo MFA beforehand.

When logging in, enter your username only — do not include @ust.hk or @connect.ust.hk.

	HPC4	SuperPOD
Hostname	hpc4.ust.hk	superpod.ust.hk
SSH port	22 (default)	22 (default)
Authentication	Password + Duo MFA, or public key	Password + Duo MFA, or public key
Account credentials	Your HKUST ITSC account	Your HKUST ITSC account
Example SSH command	ssh alice@hpc4.ust.hk	ssh alice@superpod.ust.hk

SSH with password and Duo authentication

$ ssh <username>@hpc4.ust.hk
<username>@hpc4.ust.hk's password:
Duo two-factor login for <username>
Enter a passcode or select one of your enrolled Duo authentication methods.

After entering your password, complete the Duo authentication step.

SSH with public key (recommended for daily use)

An SSH key pair eliminates the password + Duo MFA prompt on every login. Use this if you log in frequently.

Linux / macOS

Step 1 — Generate a key pair (on your local machine):

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_username@hkust"

Accept the defaults (file ~/.ssh/id_ed25519, no passphrase is ok for personal workstations; use a passphrase if shared or public machine).

Step 2 — Copy the public key to the cluster:

ssh-copy-id <username>@hpc4.ust.hk

Enter your password once. This installs ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub into ~/.ssh/authorized_keys on the cluster.

Step 3 — Test:

ssh <username>@hpc4.ust.hk

You should log in without a password prompt.

Repeat for SuperPOD — the same key works for both clusters:

ssh-copy-id <username>@superpod.ust.hk

Windows (PowerShell)

Windows 10/11 ships with OpenSSH. Open PowerShell (not CMD) and run the same commands as Linux:

Step 1 — Generate a key pair:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "your_username@hkust"

Step 2 — Copy the public key to the cluster:

ssh-copy-id is not available on Windows. Use this one-liner instead:

Get-Content ~\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | ssh <username>@hpc4.ust.hk "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

Step 3 — Test:

ssh <username>@hpc4.ust.hk

Repeat for SuperPOD:

Get-Content ~\.ssh\id_ed25519.pub | ssh <username>@superpod.ust.hk "mkdir -p ~/.ssh && cat >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys"

When to use which

	Password + Duo MFA	SSH public key
Security	Good — MFA adds second factor	Good — passphrase on key adds second factor
Convenience	Must enter password + Duo every time	No prompt after initial setup
Best for	First-time login, infrequent access	Daily work, automation, rsync

VPN Requirements

• Connect to the campus network via wired connection or eduroam Wi-Fi.

• If you are off campus, use Secure Remote Access VPN before connecting.

References

• HPC4 login guide

• SuperPOD login guide

• VPN setup

• Duo MFA