1. OIT HPC
  2. Getting Started
  3. Quick Start Tutorial
  4. Step 8

Step 8: Open OnDemand and the HPC-VCL

For applications needing interactivity with a remote display (i.e., a GUI), use Open OnDemand or the HPC-VCL image available through the NC State Virtual Computing Lab (VCL). Step 8 is optional. You should only request access to the HPC-VCL if you will be using a GUI application.

Open OnDemand

The easiest way to use GUI applications on Hazel is Open OnDemand, a web interface with in-browser terminals, file transfer, and interactive apps such as RStudio and Jupyter. See Interactive Jobs for details. The HPC-VCL, described below, provides a full remote desktop.

Download the required software (HPC-VCL)

Windows macOS Linux

Using the HPC-VCL

Use the HPC-VCL documentation to complete the following exercise. Also see the VCL's documentation on connecting via RDP.

Exercise 8.1: Using R on the HPC-VCL

  • Request access to the HPC-VCL image.
  • Create a reservation for the HPC-VCL image.
  • Connect to the remote machine using RDP.
  • Right click on the HPC-VCL window and select Open Terminal.
  • Navigate to your working guide directory in /share.
  • Using the R documentation from the Software page, load R.
  • Note that the HPC-VCL nodes are not shared, so you may run programs directly on an HPC-VCL node. Run the R script again by typing Rscript weather.R.
  • Display the plot by typing evince weather.pdf.


    • Take the HPC Quiz