RStudio Server

The RStudio Server web UI can be accessed via the Open OnDemand Applications.

Known Issues:

RStudio Server Shows Blank or Gray Screen, or Error “Status code 502”

When using RStudio Server through OnDemand, some users have found that the job starts normally, but upon connecting through OnDemand, a blank or gray screen appears instead of RStudio Server. Occasionally, RStudio Server will load successfully from this screen. Please wait at least a full minute on this screen before proceeding to the solution below.

Resolving

If the gray screen persists after one minute, or you receive the error:

` Status code 502 returned by RStudio Server when executing 'client_init' `

it is possible that RStudio Server is stuck trying to load.

As a workaround, try reloading the tab and waiting another minute. This can sometimes resolve the issue.

If the issue continues, clearing RStudio’s temporary files can help. These are stored at:

` ~/.local/share/rstudio `

To do this safely, move the files to a backup location with the following command:

` mv ~/.local/share/rstudio ~/.local/share/rstudio.backup `

Then, try loading RStudio Server again. Note that it may still take a minute or two for the gray screen to clear, as described above.

⚠️ Note: This will likely reset your RStudio session. You may need to reopen previous projects and files, and any unsaved work may be lost.

Preventing

While the exact cause is unclear, possible reasons include:

  1. RStudio Server’s temporary files being corrupted due to an improper shutdown.

  2. RStudio Server attempting to reload large files from a previous session.

To minimize the chance of this happening:

  • Properly shut down your RStudio session before your job times out in OnDemand. Do this by clicking the power button in the top-right corner of RStudio Server.

  • Prevent RStudio Server from saving your workspace on exit. To do this:

    • Click the “Tools” menu and select “Global Options”.

    • In the “General” pane under the “Workspace” section:

      • Uncheck: “Restore .RData into workspace at startup:”

      • Set: “Save workspace to .RData on exit:” to Never