Moving Data from Computer to Computer

Using Globus, Rsync, scp
Author

Daniel Kick

Globus

Globus is the recommended way to move data from your local computer to the cluster. It is a service run from uchicago and allows you to move data using a web browser. Refer to SciNet’s install instructions.

Once installed you’ll need to link any remote storage. Atlas’ collection name is msuhpc2#Atlas-dtn. Linking it will require logging in with with your Ceres password.

Once linked, you’ll be able to move data between linked drives.

Rsync and scp

Command line tools like rsync and scp can be used to move files between workstations in the lab or to a cluster. To move data to or from Atlas one would use the following and then provide your password and authentication code.

scp ./file <SCINet UserID>@Atlas-dtn.hpc.msstate.edu:/path/to/destination

Note that the computer you’re connecting to is Atlas-dtn.hpc.msstate.edu instead of Atlas-Login.hpc.msstate.edu. This will access a data transfer node leaving the login nodes free for others to use.

If you need to move a directory, use the recursive flag -r or use rsync. With the latter this might look like:

rsync -azv --progress ./file <SCINet UserID>@Atlas-dtn.hpc.msstate.edu:/path/to/destination

The options here ensure the file permissions are maintained (-a archive), files are zipped before transfer (-z zip), information is written to standard output (-v verbose), and transfer progress is provided (--progress).