Client-Server Connections

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ allows you to connect a client to any running server for which you have access, and also to disconnect clients when you choose. The client version must match the server version for a successful connection. Secure connections require additional inputs.

As several related actions are possible for client-server connections, these actions are described in the following table.

Action Steps
Disconnect a client from its server
  • Within the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace, make sure that the correct simulation window is active.
  • Select File > Disconnect.
This action disconnects the client from the server. Both processes are still running, although you no longer see the simulation window in the client. If all clients are disconnected from a running server, no graphics scenes will be saved to files. Simcenter STAR-CCM+ warns you when disconnecting the last client.

You can close the client workspace after disconnecting from a server. The server continues to run.

NoteWhen a simulation is started with the Server Connection Mode set to No Connect, the File > Disconnect menu item is grayed out.
Connect to a server that you started
You can choose from multiple methods:
  • From within the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace, select Window > Servers, right-click on a server entry, and select Connect.
  • Alternatively, from the top menubar, select File > Connect to Server... and enter the Host and Port number of the server you want to connect with.
Connect to a server through a secure tunnel

You can connect to a running server through an SSH tunnel. This approach is necessary when the client machine cannot see the server host, but you have SSH permissions to another machine which can see the server host. These SSH permissions must allow you to connect without requiring a password.

The most common example of this scenario is when the server is running on the nodes of a cluster, you want to run the client on your local workstation, and your workstation can see the head-node of the cluster but not the nodes used to run jobs. Therefore you must connect using an ssh tunnel through the head-node.

  1. If you always use the same SSH tunnel settings, first define these settings as defaults for all your Simcenter STAR-CCM+ sessions:
    1. In the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ workspace, select Tools > Options.
    2. Within Options, select SSH Tunnel and complete the property fields required.
    3. Close the Options dialog.
  2. From the top menubar, select File > Connect to Server....
  3. Activate Connect Through SSH Tunnel. Modify the subsequent properties if necessary.
  4. Enter the Host and Port for the target server.