Transferring Files to and from SDSU HPC Clusters Using FileZilla

What is FileZilla?

FileZilla is a free, open-source FTP client that allows you to transfer files between your local computer and the SDSU HPC clusters (Innovator and Discovery) using a graphical drag-and-drop interface. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

FileZilla is a good option if you prefer a visual interface over command line tools like SCP. It connects to the cluster using SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) which is secure and works the same way as your SSH login.

Downloading and Installing FileZilla

  1. Go to https://filezilla-project.org
  2. Click Download FileZilla Client
  3. Select the version for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
  4. Install it following the on-screen instructions

Connecting to Innovator

Open FileZilla and fill in the fields at the top of the screen:

Field Value
Host innovator.sdstate.edu
Username Your username in the format firstname.lastname@jacks.local. Example: john.doe@jacks.local.
Password Your SDSU password
Port 22

Click Quickconnect. If this is your first time connecting you may see a security prompt asking you to trust the host key — click OK to proceed.

Connecting to Discovery

Follow the same steps but use the Discovery hostname:

Field Value
Host discovery.sdstate.edu
Username Your username in the format firstname.lastname@jacks.local. Example: john.doe@jacks.local
Password Your SDSU password
Port 22

Click Quickconnect.

For Users from Other BOR Institutions

If you are from a non-SDSU institution replace @jacks.local with your institution domain:

  • USD: jane.doe@usd.local
  • SDSMT: jane.doe@SDSMT.LOCAL (case sensitive)
  • DSU: jane.doe@dsu.local
  • BHSU: jane.doe@blackhills.local

Understanding the FileZilla Interface

Once connected, FileZilla shows two panels side by side:

  • Left panel (Local Site) — files and folders on your own computer
  • Right panel (Remote Site) — files and folders on the cluster

Your default landing directory on the cluster will be your home directory:

  • Innovator: /home/jacks.local/username
  • Discovery: /home/jacks.local/username

Navigating to Your Scratch Directory

For large files use your scratch directory instead of home. To navigate there in FileZilla:

  1. In the Remote Site panel, look for the path field at the top
  2. Type the path to your scratch directory:

/scratch/jacks.local/username

Press Enter to navigate there directly.

Transferring Files

To upload files from your computer to the cluster:

  1. Navigate to the folder on your computer in the left panel
  2. Navigate to the destination folder on the cluster in the right panel
  3. Select the files you want to upload in the left panel
  4. Drag them to the right panel or right-click and select Upload

To download files from the cluster to your computer:

  1. Navigate to the files on the cluster in the right panel
  2. Navigate to the destination folder on your computer in the left panel
  3. Select the files in the right panel
  4. Drag them to the left panel or right-click and select Download

Selecting multiple files:

  • Hold Shift and click to select a range of files
  • Hold Ctrl (Windows/Linux) or Cmd (Mac) and click to select individual files

Saving Your Connection (Site Manager)

To avoid entering your credentials every time, save your connection in the Site Manager:

  1. Click File → Site Manager
  2. Click New Site
  3. Name it — for example Innovator or Discovery
  4. Fill in the connection details:
    • Protocol: SFTP - SSH File Transfer Protocol
    • Host: innovator.sdstate.edu or discovery.sdstate.edu
    • Port: 22
    • Logon Type: Normal
    • User: your username (e.g. john.doe@jacks.local)
    • Password: your SDSU password
  5. Click Connect

Next time, just open Site Manager and double-click your saved connection.

Troubleshooting

  • Connection refused or timed out — make sure you are on the SDSU network or connected via VPN if off campus
  • Authentication failed — check your username format includes the domain (e.g. john.doe@jacks.local) and your password is correct
  • Could not connect — verify the hostname is correct: innovator.sdstate.edu or discovery.sdstate.edu
  • Transfer failed — check you have write permissions to the destination folder and enough storage quota

Questions or Problems

If you have any questions or need assistance contact the SDSU RCi team:

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