VPN and SSH access
Connecting to Mjolnir takes two steps: connect to the UCPH VPN, then SSH to the cluster entrance.
Step 1 — Connect to the UCPH VPN#
Connect to the UCPH VPN before connecting to Mjolnir. Current guidance is to use the Cisco AnyConnect client obtained from UCPH:
- Get the client from vpn.ku.dk
- Remote access guidance: Remote access on KUnet
Note Use the client obtained from UCPH. A version downloaded elsewhere, or carried over from another institution, may not be configured for UCPH remote access.
VPN and remote-access problems are handled by UCPH IT rather than by Mjolnir support — see KU-IT contact details. If the VPN itself will not connect, that is the right place to start.
Step 2 — Log in over SSH#
Once the VPN is connected, open a terminal and run:
ssh <KU-ID>@mjolnirgate.unicph.domainReplace <KU-ID> with your own KU user ID. Your password is the password associated with your KU-ID — there is no separate Mjolnir password.
The first time you connect, your SSH client will ask you to accept the server's host key. This is normal on a first connection.
Where you land#
mjolnirgate is the entrance to Mjolnir. It is a DNS name covering the login node and several standby servers, so the machine you land on may vary between sessions.
Important The login node is not for computation. It is for logging in, managing files, preparing work, and submitting and monitoring jobs. Analyses belong in Slurm jobs — see Login nodes vs compute nodes.
If login fails#
| Symptom | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| SSH hangs or times out | The VPN is not connected, or not connected with Cisco AnyConnect |
| VPN itself will not connect | A KU-IT issue — use the KU links above, not Mjolnir support |
| VPN works but SSH is refused or rejects your password | Ask Mjolnir support — see Getting help |
If the VPN connects successfully and you still cannot log in, that is a Mjolnir issue and worth raising. Include the exact command you ran and the error text.
Next steps#
- Save typing on future logins — SSH shortcuts and keys
- Run something — First 15 minutes on Mjolnir