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RCP Quick Start Tutorial: Uploading Data and Launching Your First Session

This tutorial walks through the complete workflow:

  1. Set up your RCP account
  2. Create or join a project space
  3. Upload a small CSV file from your laptop
  4. Launch RStudio
  5. Read and inspect the data
  6. Properly stop your session to avoid charges

Step 1: Get an RCP Account

If you do not yet have access to RCP:

👉 Check out our Quick Start guide

  • Request access to the HBS Research Computing Platform (RCP). You will receive an email once your account has been provisioned.
  • Log into RCP at least once before requesting or being added to a project.

Full onboarding and access documentation:
Getting Started with RCP

If you encounter issues, contact: research@hbs.edu

Step 2: Create or Join a Project Space

All work in RCP happens inside a project space. - If you will be the project owner, request a new project space. Once the space is provisioned, configure your launchers . - If joining an existing project, ask the project owner to add you after your first login by reaching out to research@hbs.edu.

Project owners can: - Authorize adding/removing team members
- Configure launchers - Monitor usage and costs

Project management documentation:
Managing Projects

Once your project space has been created or you are added to a project, you can begin uploading data and launching sessions.

Step 3: Upload Your CSV File

Assume you have a file on your laptop called:

mydata.csv

File transfer documentation:
Transferring and Syncing Files

For Small Files (Under 5GB)

  1. Log into RCP.
  2. Click on your project.
  3. Click the Files tab.
  4. Click Upload File.
  5. Select mydata.csv from your laptop.
  6. Confirm the file appears in your project storage.

For Larger or Multiple Files

  • Compress files locally before upload, or
  • Use Globus for reliable large file transfer.

Step 4: Choose and Start a Launcher

To Start a Launcher

  1. Click on the project Workbench. For this tutorial, we will use RStudio. Click on the RStudio launcher.
  2. Name your session.
  3. Select the instance size (CPU/GPU/RAM) appropriate for your work.
  4. Click Provision.
  5. Wait for provisioning. Note that this can take 5-10 minutes.
  6. Click Connect when ready.

âš  Running sessions incur compute charges.

When finished: - Click Stop (to pause)
- Or Terminate (to delete permanently)

Launcher management documentation:
Managing Launchers and Sessions

Available software and storage details:
Storage and Available Software

Step 5: Read Your CSV

Files you have uploaded can be found in your project folder. This typically takes the form of "/home/ec2-user/studies/YourProjectName." Assume mydata.csv is in this project folder.

In R (RStudio)

df <- read.csv("/home/ec2-user/studies/YourProjectName/mydata.csv", stringsAsFactors = FALSE)
head(df)
summary(df)

If you need information about available software or installing packages:
Software and Package Installation

Step 6: Download Results

To download outputs:

  1. Go to the Files tab.
  2. Select your file.
  3. Click Download.

For large downloads: - Compress files first, or
- Use Globus Globus.

File transfer documentation:
File Transfer Guide

Important Cost Reminder

You are charged while sessions are running.

To understand pricing and monitor usage:

Billing and Pricing Documentation

Best practice: - Stop sessions when finished. - Monitor project spending regularly.

Quick Workflow Summary

  1. Request account and log in.
    RCP Homepage

  2. Create or join a project space.
    Managing Projects

  3. Upload CSV file.
    Transferring Files

  4. Start launcher.
    Launchers & Sessions

  5. Read data.

  6. Stop session and monitor costs.
    Billing Guide

For help: research@hbs.edu