SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) is commonly used protocol for transferring data. There are clients available for almost any platform that one can think of. It is available for retrieving data from MAX IV (as an alternative to using Globus).
Prerequisites
- You need to have a telephone number registered in DUO where you can receive SMS messages. This is to be able to complete the two-factor authentication login at MAX IV. To verify or change the phone number, log into DUO and go to your personal information under the Account Settings. An SMS with a security code will be sent to the number listed as your primary phone.
- Only the directories below /mxn and /data are accessible from the sftp server. If you store any files in the /home area of the HPC clusters you must copy or move them to your /mxn/visitors area in order to transfer them to your own computer. See also the section about common directories.
Log in to the sftp server from a Linux client
- From Linux command line, simply type
sftp 'maxiv_user_name'@sftp.maxiv.lu.seon the command line, where ‘maxiv_user_name’ is the same user name you use to log in to DUO or the beamline computers.
You will first be asked to log in using your MAX IV credentials (password).
Next you need to provide the “otp” code, which will be sent to your mobile number via SMS. - Go to the directory that you want to transfer. This will typically be under /data/visitors/’beamline’/’your_proposal’/’date’/…
E.g.cd /data/visitors/betamax/19801111/19810101/raw/ -
get -R <dir>
this command will recursively download the entire directory “dir” to the path where you started sftp.
sftp help
Typing “help” returns a list of commands
Available commands:
bye Quit sftp
cd path Change remote directory to 'path'
chgrp grp path Change group of file 'path' to 'grp'
chmod mode path Change permissions of file 'path' to 'mode'
chown own path Change owner of file 'path' to 'own'
df [-hi] [path] Display statistics for current directory or
filesystem containing 'path'
exit Quit sftp
get [-afPpRr] remote [local] Download file
reget [-fPpRr] remote [local] Resume download file
reput [-fPpRr] [local] remote Resume upload file
help Display this help text
lcd path Change local directory to 'path'
lls [ls-options [path]] Display local directory listing
lmkdir path Create local directory
ln [-s] oldpath newpath Link remote file (-s for symlink)
lpwd Print local working directory
ls [-1afhlnrSt] [path] Display remote directory listing
lumask umask Set local umask to 'umask'
mkdir path Create remote directory
progress Toggle display of progress meter
put [-afPpRr] local [remote] Upload file
pwd Display remote working directory
quit Quit sftp
rename oldpath newpath Rename remote file
rm path Delete remote file
rmdir path Remove remote directory
symlink oldpath newpath Symlink remote file
version Show SFTP version
!command Execute 'command' in local shell
! Escape to local shell
? Synonym for help
SFTP clients for Windows and MacOS
Some popular SFTP clients for Windows and MacOS platforms are
- WinSCP (Windows)
- FileZilla (Windows, MacOS, Linux)
- CyberDuck (MacOS, Windows)
- PuTTY (Windows command line client is part of PuTTY installation)
- MacOS also has the standard sftp command line program available.
Transferring files to MAX IV
It is not possible to transfer files directly from an external computer to the /mxn/ or /data/visitor areas at MAX IV. Incoming files must be placed in the /data/ingest directory:
- You can connect either via sftp.maxiv.lu.se or the Globus server.
- Go to the directory /data/ingest and create a subdirectory (we recommend to use your user name).
- Transfer the data from your computer to your ingest subdirectory.
- Log in to the one of the MAX IV HPC clusters (you cannot read the ingest directory from any other machines). If you are offsite, open a VPN connection and log in to the offline HPC cluster.
- Move or copy the files to the appropriate location. Any files left over in the ingest directory will be automatically deleted, typically within one month.