Logging in with Web Desktop - also copying and pasting

Created by Jeremy Fischer
Apr 29, 2020
min read


  1. Log into Jetstream via the web interface, use.jetstream-cloud.org, and launch the instance.
  2. When the status shows as Active, click the 'Open Web Desktop' link found on the lower right hand side of the screen. If this link is unavailable try refreshing your window.
    If the link is still not enabled, verify that the status is green Active and not any of the yellow variants (e.g. Active Networking)

*NOTE: Currently, Web Desktop allows ONLY ONE Web Desktop window per browser login to use.jetstream-cloud.org. Each new Web Shell will disconnect previous windows/tabs. If you need more than one Web Shell, you will need to use a tab or window in INCOGNITO mode or open a second browser. 

3. Under normal circumstances Web Desktop will automatically use your credentials and you will not have to enter your XSEDE username and password.

4. Closing the tab is one way to close the session, but the cleaner, best practice method is press Shift + Control + Alt or Shift + Control + Opt (MacOS) to bring up the side panel. Select the right side tab with the small user icon and long ID string. Then select "Disconnect" to close the session. Once you are back to the Jetstream logo, the window can be closed. 

Copy and Paste in Web Shell 


To Paste text into Web Shell

  1. Select and copy text from other source using normal method for your system. ( Control + C or ⌘+C)
  2. Paste text in Web Shell with Shift + Control + V or right-click

** Older versions of Firefox may not directly support clipboard access. Some versions can enable the beta feature by visiting the URL about:config and searching for dom.events.testing.asyncClipboard. Setting the value of this feature to true may enable clipboard use. Alternatively, use the Clipboard pane.

To Paste text into Web Shell using Clipboard Pane

  1. Select and copy text from other source
  2. Shift + Control + Alt or Shift + Control + Opt (MacOS) to bring up the clipboard pane
  3. Paste text in the clipboard
  4. Shift + Control +Alt to exit clipboard
  5. Paste text in Web Shell with Shift + Control + V or right-click and selecting "Paste"

To Copy text from Web Desktop

  1. Select text in Web Desktop. Selected text is automatically copied to the copy buffer
  2. Paste text into other location using normal method for your system. ( Control + V or ⌘+V)

** BE AWARE: Copy activity happening AFTER you first select text in the Web Shell will replace the selected text. To copy again, you will have to re-select.

** Older versions of Firefox may not directly support clipboard access. Some versions can enable the beta feature by visiting the URL about:config and searching for dom.events.testing.asyncClipboard. Setting the value of this feature to true may enable clipboard use. Alternatively, use the Clipboard pane.


To Copy text from Web Desktop using Clipboard pane

  1. Select text in Web Desktop. Selected text is automatically copied to clipboard
  2. Shift + Control +Alt(Opt) to bring up the clipboard pane
  3. Select text in the clipboard using normal method for your system (e.g. Control + C or ⌘+C)
  4. Shift + Control +Alt(Opt) to exit clipboard
  5. Paste text into other location using normal method for your system. ( Control + V or ⌘+V)

File Upload/Download using Web Desktop 


UPLOAD

To upload a file, you can simply drag-and-drop it into the browser window. It will automatically be uploaded to your home directory.

Alternatively, pull up the side-menu/clipboard-pane [ Shift + Control +Alt(Opt) ] and double-click on the drive under "Devices". You can then navigate the filesystem by double-clicking through directories and clicking the "Upload Files" button.

Note: File upload can be pretty slow so it is recommended that you use a different method for files larger than 100 MB.

DOWNLOAD

To download files, pull up the side-menu/clipboard-pane [ Shift + Control +Alt(Opt) ] and double-click on the drive under "Devices". Navigate the filesystem by double-clicking through directories and then double-click on a file that you want to download.

Note: File download can be pretty slow so it is recommended that you use a different method for files larger than 100 MB.