Authentication

Arctos relies on an open standard for authenticating users registered to use Arctos. Any one who wants to interact with Arctos, from downloading data to managing data, must have a user account to authenticate their access.

OAuth

OAuth (Open Authorization) is an open standard for authorization that allows third-party applications to access user data on another service without needing the user’s password. Arctos uses OAuth to allow logging in via various providers. All Operators (those who can change things in the database) must authenticate via TACC/TAPIS.

TACC Account

If an operator does not have a TACC account, create your TACC account here.. If you have a .edu email address, it is strongly recommended to use it in your TACC profile, as these addresses are authorized without additional review. If you have another work email domain (e.g., .org, etc) please use that. All other email address types are subject to additional validation by TACC. Users with a TACC account can go directly to the user management section of the TACC portal: https://accounts.tacc.utexas.edu/login?redirect_url=profile.

MFA

TACC and Arctos generally require MFA for accounts. TACC accounts created after February 07, 2023 should work without issue. For those created before this date with SMS MFA, you will have to un-pair and re-pair your mobile number.

• Log into the TACC user portal https://tacc.utexas.edu/portal/dashboard
• Click Manage Account
• Click Manage multi-factor Authentication
• Click unpair
• Use the email option if SMS doesn’t work
• Follow the directions in the email to unpair
• Use the Manage multi-factor Authentication button again to re-pair your cell number

Migrating Existing Arctos Accounts

If you have an older, inactive, Local-Authentication Arctos Operator account, please perform the following steps:

1. Attempt to authenticate in Arctos using the “Log in with TACC” button.
2. Let us know your Arctos and TACC usernames.

We should be able to link your accounts together using that information.

Problems?

Please see https://handbook.arctosdb.org/how_to/How-to-Create-your-Arctos-Team-Users-and-Operators.html for more information, or ask for help via GitHub Issue.

Log in with TACC

To log into an Operator account created with TACC OAuth, or after an Operator account has been migrated to use TACC OAuth, simply choose the TACC option, then authenticate and/or confirm as requested.

Create Arctos Operator

All users must have a TACC account before being added an Arctos Operator. See Users for detailed instructions.

Create a public account

1. Click either Google or GitHub from the log in page.
2. Provide your credentials and/or approve the request.
3. Done! Please fill in your profile to download data.

Edit this Documentation

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