NX Client Configuration and Usage

About NX

NX provides a secure mechanism similar to VNC or RDP, allowing the client desktop to be sent over the network with encryption and compression. The compression and client side bitmap caching allow NX to perform reasonably well even over slow network connections.

NX is currently available for connection on the EWS dedicated remote Linux servers (remlnx.ews.illinois.edu ).

Client Software

EWS recommends using the free NX client available from http://www.nomachine.com. The client software is available for Windows, Linux, Mac, and Solaris on the Download page ( http://www.nomachine.com/download.php ) under NX Client Products. The installation packages use all the standard mechanisms for the selected platforms.

Configuration

The configuration steps here are based on a Windows installation, but will be fairly similar on other operating systems as well.

1. Run the NX Client Connection Wizard
   
   • Press Next to install the NX Client software.
   
• Press Finish to end setup, then launch the NX Client software.


2. Session
   
   • In the Session field, enter a name for this session configuration. This is your name for it; it can be anything you like.
   • In the Host field enter remlnx.ews.illinois.edu
   • Leave the Port field set to 22
   • The internet connection slider controls compression. For more compression move it towards MODEM, for less compression move it towards LAN. ADSL should be a good option for most users.
   • Press Next to proceed to the desktop selection screen.


3. Desktop
   
   • Leave the service provider set to UNIX, other types are not supported.
   • Set the Desktop to GNOME. Gnome is the standard desktop environment on the EWS Linux workstations.
   • Adjust the screen size for the remote desktop window.
     • Available area will make a window as big as possible on the local desktop.
     • Fullscreen will make a full screen session.
     • Custom will allow a custom size to be selected.
   • DO NOT CHECK the disable encryption button, the servers will only accept encrypted sessions.
   • Press Next and the final screen for the configuration wizard will display.


4. Configuration Completed
   
   • Select create shortcut if you would like one.
   • Select advanced configuration because the configuration wizard does not all you to change the key or caching options.
   • Pressing Finish will complete the configuration wizard and if you selected show advanced configuration you will see the following screen. If you did not, you can still get to that screen from the login window by pressing the configure button.


5. General tab
   
   • Press the Key button to open the key entry window.


6. General - Key management
   
   • At the key entry window, replace the key in the window with the key found in the text file linked below using copy and paste.
   • remlnx_nx_key.txt
   • Press the Save button to save the new key. Then, select the Advanced tab.


7. Advanced tab
   
   • Here you can adjust the disk and memory cache options to increase performance.
   • Select the Environment tab.


8. Environment tab
   
   • If you plan on using Mathematica, a font server will need to be configured.ONLY DO THIS IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE MATHEMATICA. It may cause problems with other software.
   • Additional fonts, like those used for Mentor Graphics, can be downloaded and installed at nxfonts
   • The Mac and Linux clients do not have a Font Server section. This is because both have native X11 that the NX Client software uses. The Mac/Linux steps should be executed BEFORE connecting to the NX server to enable the font server.
   • Windows: In the Font Server section:
     • Select the Use font server check box.
     • In the Host field enter fs.ews.uiuc.edu
     • In the Port field enter 3389
   • Mac
     • Start X11 (/Applications/Utilities/X11.app).
     • If an xterm does not open automatically, open one by selecting the X11 Applications -> Terminal menu item.
     • At the prompt, run the following command:
       xset +fp tcp/fs.ews.uiuc.edu:3389
     • Continue with the NX Client Login procedure.
   • Linux
     • Have X running, if you are logged on using Gnome or any other common desktop environment/window manager this will already be the case.
     • Run the following on the command line:
       xset +fp tcp/fs.ews.uiuc.edu:3389
     • Continue with the NX Client Login procedure.
   • After pressing the Save button and then the Ok button, the client login screen will be displayed.


9. NX Client Login
   
   • Enter your netid in the Login field.
   • Enter your Active Directory password in the Password field.
   • Select the session configuration in the Session field.
   • Press the Login button to connect.


10. Run your required applications...
    
11. To disconnect, click System -> Logout.

Limitations

• Users are limited to one current session

EWS Manager: manager_AT_ews.uiuc.edu
©2009 Engineering Workstations,
College of Engineering,
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign