Getting Started

Getting started on M3 involves two easy steps:

  1. Create an account

  2. Connect to M3

Go to the Create an account on M3 page for further instructions on how to set up an account and set your password.

Connect to M3

There are several ways you can connect to M3 using either SSH or a virtual desktop, which you access via Strudel. Strudel is a cross-platform application that is used to access interactive desktop sessions on the high performance computing systems and cloud environments used by MASSIVE and the CVL.

If you want to use the M3 desktop, installing the Strudel desktop application (Strudel Desktop) is optional, as there is also a Strudel web service (Strudel Web).

Note: if you experience slow connection speeds using the web client, you may find that installing and using the local client improves performance.

About Strudel

Strudel is a cross-platform application that is used to access interactive desktop sessions on the high performance computing systems and cloud environments used by MASSIVE (M3) and the CVL.

There are two options for launching a desktop: using the Strudel web client or installing the Strudel application on your machine. The pros and cons for each are:

  • Strudel Web:

    • Pros: quick and easy, no install required

    • Cons: limited control over desktop resolution; interactive processes may have higher latency; some processes may run more slowly than they would using the installed application

  • Strudel Desktop:

    • Pros: Interactive processes typically have lower latency; some processes may run faster than they would using the web client

    • Cons: requires software installation and maintenance

For further instructions go to:

If you’d like advice on which client might be best for your purposes contact the MASSIVE helpdesk.