The SmallStep client installation on Windows can be done in different ways depending on the environment you want to use to work and activate connections to the machines:

• using package manager scoop on PowerShell
• using Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) with a Linux distribution installed from Microsoft Store

Warning: The Putty shell does not support the 2FA system provided by Cineca.

Windows PowerShell

Open the PowerShell, and the window as shown below appears

Then type the following commands in the PowerShell window:

• Download and install scoop
  

• Test scoop:

• Install git support for scoop

• Install smallstep

• Verify smallstep

Configuration of the step client

Initialize the client with the command:

If everything is fine the following messagg will compare on the shell:

Activation of the ssh-agent

On the system windows 10/11 the ssh-agent is active by default. You can verify it with the command:

and the output on the PowerShell will be:

If the service is not in "running status"  it can be activated with:

If is still not working , it is necessary to open the PowerShell as admin:

 and execute the following commands:

Subsequent use

Run the following command to get the timed certificate:

Enter your HPC credentials in the web interface window/tab that opened.

To view the issued certificate  and its validity status:

Now you can login to the cluster.

Windows Subsystem Linux (WSL)

It is necessary to open a shell and install step following exactly the installation instructions for the linux environment. 

Please note that WSL doesn't support separate tabs, and if you open a new window, this by default doesn't see the step certificate already issued from the previous tab. To avoid creating a new timed certificate for each session, we suggest to implement in your .bashrc an automatic verification of the created certificate based on the variables initialized by the "eval $(ssh-agent)" command, that can be redirected in an appropriate text file. For example: