---
title: "Connect Remotely to Your AI Compute — Overview"
canonical: "https://build.nvidia.com/playbooks/connect-to-your-spark/overview.md"
---

# Basic idea

Your hardware platform can be used as a local desktop (keyboard, mouse, and monitor) or as a remote device over a network.

This playbook shows two paths to connect to your hardware platform over SSH on a local network:

* **With NVIDIA Sync:** A desktop app that configures SSH and launches remote applications through a click-through interface
* **Manual SSH:** Terminal commands for direct SSH access and port forwarding

NVIDIA Sync gives you a reusable connection you can return to later. Manual SSH uses commands that you may need to repeat each time you connect.

# What you'll accomplish

You'll establish secure SSH access to your hardware platform and then open the DGX Dashboard as an example of launching a remote web application.

# What to know before starting

**Required:**

- With NVIDIA Sync: How to install a desktop application; the basics of NVIDIA Sync ([documentation](https://docs.nvidia.com/sync/latest/direct-connections.html))
- Manual SSH: Terminal/command usage and the basics of SSH configuration, including port forwarding

# Supported hardware platforms

Use the matrix below to confirm your hardware platform, recommended default local settings, and whether multi-node applies.

| Hardware platform | OS | Memory | Recommended default local settings | Multi-node capable hardware |
| :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- |
| **DGX Spark** | DGX OS (Linux) | 128 GB Unified Memory | NVIDIA Sync for remote SSH; Manual SSH as an alternative | — |

# Prerequisites

**Hardware requirements**

- Supported hardware platform — see Supported hardware platforms matrix above
- Hardware platform powered on, networked, and reachable from your laptop on the same network
- A user account on the hardware platform (username and password)
- The hardware platform's mDNS hostname or its IP address on the network

**Software requirements**

- With NVIDIA Sync path: NVIDIA Sync installed on your laptop (download steps are in the **Connect with NVIDIA Sync** tab)
- Manual SSH path: An SSH client on your laptop (`ssh -V`)
- Web browser access to forwarded ports (for example, DGX Dashboard on port `11000`)

# Time & risk

- **Estimated time:** 5–10 MIN
- **Risk level:** Low
- SSH setup configures credentials and key-based access without system-level changes to the hardware platform
- **Rollback:** Remove SSH keys by editing `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` on the hardware platform; disconnect or remove the device in NVIDIA Sync
- **Last Updated:** 08/03/2026
- Remote SSH access with NVIDIA Sync or Manual SSH, including verification and rollback guidance