How to Access the Yens

Access Eligibility

By default, GSB faculty, staff, PhD students, and research fellows have access. Others require sponsored access from a GSB faculty member. More info on sponsored access.

Log In to the Yens

Important

You need a SUNet ID and password to log into the Yens.

Open a shell.
Run the following command:
Terminal Command
```
ssh <SUNetID>@yen.stanford.edu
```
Authenticate using your SUNet ID password. You will not see your password being typed. Then, complete the two-factor authentication process with Duo.

If the login is successful, you will see something similar to the following:

Log In to a Specific Yen

To log into a specific server (yen1, yen2, yen3, yen4 or yen5), write it in the ssh command. For example, to login to yen3, do:

Terminal Command

ssh <SUNetID>@yen3.stanford.edu

Common Access Questions

What Shell Should I Use?

Mac Users

Access the shell through the Terminal app (pre-installed).

Windows Users

Windows 10+ Users:
Install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) by running in Windows powershell:
Powershell Command
```
wsl --install
```

After installing and restarting your computer, search for Ubuntu and follow the setup instructions.

Tip

To enable copy and paste, click the top-left Ubuntu icon, go to Settings, and enable copy/paste.

Windows <10 Users:
Use Git Bash, which comes with Git for Windows.

Linux Users

Open your default shell app, often named Shell or something similar, depending on your OS.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) Applications

For GUI applications such as Stata, use X-forwarding:

Mac OS: Install XQuartz.
Windows 10+: WSL supports X-forwarding natively so no third-party tool is needed.
Windows <10: Install Xming.

Then, use:

Terminal Command

ssh -Y <SUNetID>@yen.stanford.edu

Common Access Issues

No Sponsored Yen Cluster Access

If you're not eligible by default, confirm you have sponsorship from a GSB faculty member.
Access Not Renewed

Sponsored access may need periodic renewal. Verify if your access has expired.
Scheduled Maintenance

The Yens undergo regular maintenance every two months. Downtime notifications are provided on login, via email and Slack.
```
📅⏰⚠️  --> Next Downtime: March 26, 2020
```
Remote Access Issues

Ensure you are connected to Stanford’s VPN when accessing the Yens remotely.

Use Full Server Address

If you encounter an error like:

Terminal Output

ssh: Could not resolve hostname yen1: nodename nor servname provided, or not known

Ensure you use the full address:

Terminal Command

ssh <SUNetID>@yen1.stanford.edu