| name | mila-connect-cluster |
| description | Use this skill when the user asks about connecting to the Mila cluster via SSH, verifying the connection, entering an OTP, or troubleshooting connection failures. Trigger phrases include: "How do I connect to the cluster", "How do I SSH into the cluster", "ssh mila", "login.server.mila.quebec", "How do I verify my connection", "I can't connect", "connection refused", "permission denied", "host key verification failed", "OTP", "one-time password", "The login node banner does not appear", "Not prompted for OTP", "How do I install uv on the cluster", "I'm connected, what's next". |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| argument-hint | <connect|troubleshoot> |
Connect to the Mila Cluster via SSH
This skill guides users through connecting to the Mila cluster for the first
time, entering the OTP from their authenticator app, and troubleshooting
common connection failures.
Base policies
At the start of each response, use the Skill tool with skill: "mila-base" to
load and apply all shared policies before proceeding with the workflow below.
Reference documentation
Primary source: https://docs.mila.quebec/getting_started/
— sections "Verify your connection" and "Install uv on the cluster".
Discover documentation
Use the WebSearch tool with this query to find the current URL of the primary
source above:
site:docs.mila.quebec "__skill-mila-connect-cluster"
Use the URL from the search result in the WebFetch steps below. If the search
returns no results, fall back to the hardcoded URL in "Reference documentation".
Workflow
Step 1: Check prerequisites
Before connecting, confirm the user has:
- A Mila account and cluster username (see the mila-account-setup skill)
- MFA set up with a TOTP authenticator app (see the mila-account-setup skill)
milatools installed and mila init completed (see the mila-local-setup skill)
If any prerequisite is missing, direct the user to the appropriate skill first.
Step 2: Fetch the documentation
Use the WebFetch tool to fetch https://docs.mila.quebec/getting_started/ and locate the
"Verify your connection" section.
Step 3: Guide through the SSH connection
Walk through the connection steps:
- Open a terminal (or WSL terminal on Windows).
- Run:
ssh mila
- When prompted for an OTP, open the authenticator app and enter the
current 6-digit code. The code will not appear on screen as it is
typed — this is expected.
- On success, the Mila login-node banner appears (the ASCII art logo
followed by system information).
Key points to communicate:
- The OTP is time-based and expires every 30 seconds; if it fails, wait
for the next code to generate.
- The
ssh mila shortcut works because mila init wrote the SSH config;
the full hostname is login.server.mila.quebec.
Step 4: Handle troubleshooting
Not prompted to enter an OTP:
→ mila init was not completed or the SSH config is missing. Run
mila init again (see the mila-local-setup skill).
Prompted for OTP but the login-node banner does not appear after entering
the code:
→ MFA setup is incomplete (TOTP token missing or wrong). Return to
https://mfa.mila.quebec and add a TOTP token (see the mila-account-setup skill).
OTP rejected repeatedly:
→ Check that the device clock is synchronized (TOTP is time-sensitive).
Contact IT support at https://it-support.mila.quebec if the issue persists.
Step 5: Install uv on the cluster
Once the connection is confirmed, uv needs to be installed on the cluster
before running any jobs. Guide the user to install it now while already on the
login node.
Note: the following commands run inside the SSH session (on the cluster
login node) — do not offer to run them via the Bash tool.
Use the WebFetch tool to fetch https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/ for
up-to-date installation instructions. The cluster runs Linux, so follow
the Linux installation steps.
Step 6: Point to the next skill
Once the connection is confirmed and uv is installed on the cluster,
direct the user to the mila-run-jobs skill to run their first job.
