BigData@Polito Access Instructions

User Account

To access the BigData@Polito Cluster you need a user account. Request the credentials.

For support, accounts or technical issues, write to supporto@smartdata.polito.it.

Jupyter Interface – Spawning a Server

The primary interface for the cluster is via JupyterLab:  https://jupyter.polito.it/

After login, spawn a server among the images at your disposition.

Coming soon: With the new BigData Cluster, more powerful images will become available for all users. More powerful images will have a limited lifetime (i.e., the biggest images will be culled everyday). Less powerful images can be used for longer interval instead (e.g., up to a week).

Jupyter Interface – Main Interface

In the main jupyter interface you can start PySpark notebooks, running your master in the notebook server (local) or in the big data cluster (yarn). You can open your terminal or interact with your home folder in the left panel. Other notebooks are also available, such as R and Octave. 

How to Change Your Password (Step by Step Guide)

Changing your password is simple and fundamental to secure your account.

Make sure your new password is strong (at least 8–12 characters, with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols).

Below you find the complete guide you can follow.

Step 1: Open a Terminal

First, you need to open your terminal.
– You can open the terminal from the “Launcher” tab.

Step 2: Run the passwd Command

Once the terminal is open, type the following command and press Enter:

passwd

Step 3: Enter Your Current Password

The system will first ask for your current password. Type it in and press Enter.
(Note: when typing your password, nothing will appear on screen — this is normal for security reasons.)

$ passwd
Current password: ********

Step 4: Enter a New Password

Next, you will be prompted to enter your new password:

New password: ********

Step 5: Confirm Your New Password

You will be asked to type your new password again for confirmation:

Retype new password: ********

Step 6: Success Message

If everything matches, you will see a message similar to this:

passwd: password updated successfully

Congratulations! You’ve successfully changed your password.

Example of the Full Process

Here’s what it looks like in a real terminal session:

$ passwd
Changing password for user john
Current password: ********
New password: ********
Retype new password: ********
passwd: password updated successfully