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Quick Start Guide to CoESRA

Owned by Leah Gustafson (Unlicensed)
Last updated: 22 May 2024 by TERN Data
3 min read

CoESRA is a Linux-based virtual desktop platform accessible via a web browser.

To access the CoESRA portal, load the TERN homepage and navigate to the Data menu, then click on CoESRA Virtual Desktop.


Alternative you can load https://coesra.tern.org.au/ directly in the URL bar at the top of your browser window.






1. Create a CoESRA account

A CoESRA account is different from your normal TERN account. From the CoESRA portal homepage, you will need to click the Access CoESRA button.

There are three ways you can log in to CoESRA:

  • using Australian Access Federation (AAF) authentication
  • using a CILogon account
  • using a Google account



AAF users will be redirected to their university's login page, CILogon users will be redirected to the CILogon process, and Google users will be redirected to their Google Account login page. Institutions using Microsoft credentialing will be able to login using CILogon by selecting Microsoft from the Identity Provider dropdown. Once logged in using any of these services, you will be automatically returned to the TERN system.

AAF users will be directed immediately to the TERN registration page to create an account. CILogon users will also be directed to the registration page, however it should be noted that TERN systems require your CILogon account to be linked with your AAF account if you have one.

When you log in for the first-time using Google, you will be required to wait for a confirmation email before accessing the website. The email notification will take somewhere between 5-10 minutes to appear in your inbox. Please note that the confirmation link expires after 5 minutes. If your link has expired, you will be able to get it re-sent by reattempting to login on the TERN website using Google.

If you don't have either an AAF, CILogon or Google account, please contact esupport@tern.org.au so that we can organise a guest account for you.






2. Log in

Once you have created an account, you will be able to login in using the sign in method that you chose when you created an account (AAF, CILogon, or Google). Each method will redirect you to sign in using your credentials for that service then return you to the CoESRA portal signed in using that account.

If at any time you would like to change your login method, simply choose a new option on the sign in page and you will be directed to create a new account.






3. Access Desktop

You can use the default settings for provisioning your virtual desktop then click Launch Desktop.

There is a choice to request a CPU or a GPU node. The default is a CPU node as there are limited GPU nodes available. GPU nodes may not be available at all the times and usage may be limited during times of peak demand.

For information about changing your desktop settings, please read How to customise you virtual desktop.





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