File transfer to/from Alvis using FileZilla

Why is this page at UPPMAX?

It is the intention that this guide is moved to the C3SE documentation. However, it has not been suggested to be added to their documentaton yet.

HPC clusters have different ways to do file transfer using FileZilla.

This page shows how to do so for Alvis.

FileZilla connected to Alvis

Procedure

Would you like a video?

See the YouTube video file transfer from/to Alvis using FileZilla.

FileZilla is a secure file transfer tool that works under Linux, Mac and Windows.

To transfer files to/from Alvis using FileZilla, do the following steps:

1. Get inside SUNET

Get inside of SUNET.

Forgot how to get within SUNET?

See the 'get inside the university networks' page

2. Install putty-tools

What if I don't use Linux?

Instead of following steps 2 and 3, follow the procedure at the puttygen page, section 'Create SSH key files'.

sudo apt install putty-tools

3. Create the needed files in the .ssh folder

Navigate into the .ssh folder.

cd .ssh

3.1 Create the .ppk file

In the .ssh folder, from a terminal do:

puttygen -t rsa -b 2048 -C "[alvis_username]@alvis.c3se.chalmers.se" -o [filename].ppk

For example:

puttygen -t rsa -b 2048 -C "svens@alvis.c3se.chalmers.se" -o alvis_filezilla.ppk

3.2 Extract the private SSH key from the .ppk file

In the .ssh folder, from a terminal do:

puttygen -O private-openssh-new [filename].ppk -o [filename]

For example:

puttygen -O private-openssh-new alvis_filezilla.ppk -o alvis_filezilla

3.3 Extract the public SSH key from the .ppk file

In the .ssh folder, from a terminal do:

puttygen -O public-openssh [filename].ppk -o [filename].pub

For example:

puttygen -O public-openssh alvis_filezilla.ppk -o alvis_filezilla.pub

4. Add the public SSH key to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

Copy the public SSH key (in the .pub file) to the ~/.ssh/authorized_keys file on Alvis.

If that file does not exist yet, create it and set the right permissions as such:

mkdir .ssh
touch .ssh/authorized_keys
chmod 700 .ssh/authorized_keys
chmod 700 .ssh
chmod 700 ~

5. Start FileZilla

Start FileZilla.

6. Start FileZilla's site manager

From the menu, select 'File | Site manager'

Where is that?

It is here:

The FileZilla 'File' menu contains the item 'Site manager'

7. Add a new site in FileZilla's site manager

In FileZilla's site manager, click 'New site'

Where is that?

It is here:

8. Setup the site

In FileZilla's site manager:

• create a name for the site, e.g. Alvis.
• for that site, use all standards, except:
  • Set protocol to 'SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol'
  • Set host to alvis1.c3se.chalmers.se or alvis2.c3se.chalmers.se
  • Set user to [username], e.g. svens
  • Set logon type: Key file
  • Upload the key file at /.ssh/alvis_filezilla.ppk from you local's computer

How does that look like?

It looks similar to this:

9. Connect to the site

Click 'Connect'.

10. Ready to transfer files

Now you can transfer files between your local computer and Alvis.

How does that look like?

It looks like this: