Why can't I log in using MobaXTerm?

Recent changes to our authentication system have caused some problems for people who log in to NeSI HPC systems using MobaXTerm on Windows.

To fix these problems, you will need to do the following:

Upgrade or Re-install

Upgrade your MobaXTerm to the most recent stable version. You can download the most recent stable version from mobaxterm.mobatek.net.

Warning

Some users have reported having issues downloading files using MobaXterm 23.6. We suggest using version 23.5 instead.

Switch Browser to SCP

If you have created saved sessions to connect to NeSI HPC facilities, open the settings for each such saved session and under the "Advanced SSH settings" tab, change the SSH browser type from SFTP to something else, such as "SCP (enhanced speed)".

Repeating password prompts

If you are prompted multiple times for password (rather than First Factor), this is a bug. Entering any text will cause your login attempt to fail. The expected procedure is as follows.

ssh <user>@lander.nesi.org.nz
<user>@lander.nesi.org.nz's password: <Press Enter> 
<user>@lander.nesi.org.nz's password: <Press Enter> 
<user>@lander.nesi.org.nz's password: <Press Enter>
Login Password (First Factor):
Authenticator Code (Second Factor):

Delete Saved Credentials

It's possible that, even with a fresh install of mobaXterm it is still trying to use your old password from credential manager.

1. Go to Settings->Configuration and go to the General tab and click on MobaXterm password management
2. You should see the credentials for NeSI hosts (lander, mahuika, maui)
3. Remove all entries.
4. Restart MobaXterm
5. Try logging in again

More information about how to log in to our HPC facilities, and login troubleshooting.