Operators: please read about logging into Arctos before July 21st!

[Michelle S. Koo]

Dear Arctos users, The long awaited (at least long anticipated) open authentication or OAuth implementation has arrived to Arctos! Beginning July 21, logging into Arctos will look different and the initial logging in will be handled differently for different kinds of users. Please read below for specific steps to ensure a smooth transition! (please forward to any Arctos users who may not be on the listserv)

Why this is happening: Arctos is implementing open authentication to increase the security of our login system, a necessary upgrade to ward off malicious breaches of security and access to your data. The adoption of these measures, especially use of TACC authorization, also will streamline user password management, such as eliminating the need to change passwords every 90 days or locking accounts due to inactivity.

If you are a Database operator:  you will be required to have a TACC user account. 

If you do not have a TACC account, create your TACC account here. Please use your institutional email address when you are creating your TACC account. Users with .edu email addresses will seamlessly be able to create an account. Those with .org or other domains may have their immediate creation on hold for further validation steps. Often it is resolved swiftly, but you may be contacted with additional validation steps. (Please let us know if there's ongoing problems and we ask TACC directly).

If you have an existing TACC account (check here:https://accounts.tacc.utexas.edu/login) please log in to check it (e.g, make sure you've accepted their updated Terms of Use, reset lost passwords, etc)

First time logging into the new Arctos interface: Database operators, you will only have to do this once! Log into Arctos with the Local login option:

Please follow prompts in the subsequent screens which will ask you to log into your TACC account. 

Once the transition is completed, you will see an acknowledgement that your user account has successfully migrated.

All future logins must use the Log in with TACC option:

-Non-database users (e.g., accounts for only downloading data) may use either a Google or Github account to log in. You will be redirected to those services to create a Google or Github Arctos account if one does not already exist.

We've added new documentation on the Handbook (https://handbook.arctosdb.org/documentation/oauth.html). 

Thanks for your cooperation and taking the extra steps to ensure a smooth transition.

As usual, let us know if you have any issues!

Best, Arctos Tech Team