SSHFS

SSHFS is a network filesystem that relies on the SSH service to transfer files. Once a volume is connected, the files in the remote system are available on the user's computer as if they were local files. There is a wide variety of software available for Windows, macOS or Linux able to connect a network volume via SSHFS. Most graphical user interfaces for connecting SSHFS volumes, mainly on Windows or macOS, fail to comply with LUNARC's mandatory two-factor authentication. This guide describes a method to connect a remote SSHFS volume using a Linux terminal, even with LUNARC's second factor authentication.

Connecting a SSHFS volume

Make sure the SSHFS client is installed on your system (Debian: apt-get install sshfs, Fedora: dnf install fuse-sshfs). Create a directory in your home directory on your local (non-LUNARC) computer where your LUNARC files will be accessible, for example ~/media/cosmos-home:

username@localhost:~$ mkdir -p ~/media/cosmos-home

Use SSHFS to connect the directory at LUNARC that you want accessible on your local computer. Here we assume LUNARC user lunarc_username connecting their home directory on COSMOS:

username@localhost:~$ sshfs lunarc_username@cosmos.lunarc.lu.se:/home/lunarc_username ~/media/cosmos-home
(lunarc_username@cosmos.lunarc.lu.se) Password:
(lunarc_username@cosmos.lunarc.lu.se) Enter your Pocket Pass OTP: 248921
username@localhost:~$

Your LUNARC files are now accessible on your local computer:

username@localhost:~$ ls ~/media/cosmos-home/
 create                      slurm-6411487.out   slurm-6890513.out
 Desktop                     slurm-6411488.out   slurm-6890522.out
 Documents                   slurm-6411504.out   slurm-6890525.out
 ...

Disconnecting a SSHFS volume

Use fusermount's option -u to disconnect the remote volume:

lunarc_username@localhost:~$ fusermount -u ~/media/cosmos-home
lunarc_username@localhost:~$

Author: (LUNARC)

Last Updated: 2023-01-20