What you need before you begin, and the order to do it in: request access, get a key, then install Claude Desktop.
Create a key in the JCB AI key portal and generate its secret. Requires Ethernet or VPN.
Install the Claude Desktop pilot from Software Center on a Cornell-managed PC and connect it with your gateway key.
Install the Claude Desktop pilot from Self Service on a Cornell-managed Mac and connect it with your gateway key.
Rotate a key, renew it before it expires, change your spend cap, and what to do if it is exposed.
Choosing a model and what each one costs, working with documents and your workspace folder, and the difference between skills, connectors, and capabilities.
Fixes for the most common setup, key, and connection problems.
Plain-language explanation of the telemetry and experimental features these guides disable.
The four Claude families on Cornell's gateway, what each is for, what it costs per token, why most models appear twice (the 1M entries), and which older versions to ignore.
What carries over from a personal claude.ai account (very little) and what to save before you switch.
For people who want a command line. Install Claude Code and point it at Cornell's gateway.
Manual install and gateway setup for approved users without an assigned Cornell-managed device. Requires Secure Connect enrollment.
Add the Claude Code VSCode extension; it reuses the same gateway settings as the CLI.