Difference between revisions of "X2go"

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(Created page with '== Installation and Configuration of x2go Client == 1. Download x2go client: * Windows: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_mswin32-setup.exe * OSX 10.6-10.8: http:/…')
 
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== Features ==
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x2go is open source technology remote desktop technology based on the NX protocol.
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It provides users with a feature rich Linux desktop giving the user the ability to access Linux applications without the need to dual boot, or use virtualizing technology. For example, if you would like access to the latest version of MATLAB, you can either use x2go to present a full desktop, or to present only a single application. In addition to MATLAB, other applications include CMC/CAD  licensed applications.
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At the moment, this service is not available to the general ECE user base as it's consider a beta/trial service.
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See [[#Known Bugs and Issues|this link]] for known issues.
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== Installation and Configuration of x2go Client ==
 
== Installation and Configuration of x2go Client ==
  
 
1. Download x2go client:
 
1. Download x2go client:
* Windows: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_mswin32-setup.exe
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2020-03-20:  For Windows, please use the version linked to below.  Latest version is causing issues for some users.
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* Windows: https://code.x2go.org/releases/binary-win32/x2goclient/releases/4.1.2.0-2018.06.22/x2goclient-4.1.2.0-2018.06.22-setup.exe
 
* OSX 10.6-10.8: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_macosx.dmg
 
* OSX 10.6-10.8: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_macosx.dmg
 
* OSX 10.9+: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_macosx_10_9.dmg
 
* OSX 10.9+: http://code.x2go.org/releases/X2GoClient_latest_macosx_10_9.dmg
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3. Configure new x2go session:
 
3. Configure new x2go session:
* Server FQDN: ssh-soc.ece.ubc.ca
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* Server FQDN: '''ssh-soc.ece.ubc.ca'''
** Note that at this time, ssh-soc is only accessible when using UBC VPN service. This may change when ECE launches this as a supported service. See the following link for UBC VPN connection instructions.  
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** Note that at this time, access to ssh-soc from off-campus requires use of the UBC VPN service. This may change when ECE launches this as a supported service. See the following link for UBC VPN connection instructions.  
https://it.ubc.ca/services/email-voice-internet/myvpn
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***https://it.ubc.ca/services/email-voice-internet/myvpn
* Session type: XFCE
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* Session type:  
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** You have the option to either launch a full desktop, or launch only selected applications.
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*** For a full desktop, select '''XFCE'''
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*** For published application, see [[#Published Applications|published applications section]] for details
  
 
3.1. Create a new session by clicking on the button highlighted in red
 
3.1. Create a new session by clicking on the button highlighted in red
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This technology behaves very similarly to Microsoft’s RDP/terminal services. By disconnecting your client, your session is still active on the server and you can resume the session by reconnecting to this service using the x2go client.
 
This technology behaves very similarly to Microsoft’s RDP/terminal services. By disconnecting your client, your session is still active on the server and you can resume the session by reconnecting to this service using the x2go client.
 
  
Ying
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== Published Applications ==
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1. Configure your client to display icon in system tray
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[[File:x2go-pub-1.png]]
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[[File:x2go-pub-2.png]]
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2. Edit existing session profile or create new profile. Under session type, select '''Published Applications'''
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[[File:x2go-pub-3.png]]
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Save profile
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3. Login to x2go service
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[[File:x2go-5.png]]
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4. Click on the x2go icon in system tray to see a list of published applications
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[[File:x2go-pub-4.png]]
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== Known Bugs and Issues ==
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* There appears to be key mapping issues when starting a session from OSX and resuming the session from Windows (and vice versa). No fix at this time. A temporary workaround would be to start a second session from the second platform

Revision as of 14:17, 20 March 2020

Features

x2go is open source technology remote desktop technology based on the NX protocol.

It provides users with a feature rich Linux desktop giving the user the ability to access Linux applications without the need to dual boot, or use virtualizing technology. For example, if you would like access to the latest version of MATLAB, you can either use x2go to present a full desktop, or to present only a single application. In addition to MATLAB, other applications include CMC/CAD licensed applications.

At the moment, this service is not available to the general ECE user base as it's consider a beta/trial service.

See this link for known issues.

Installation and Configuration of x2go Client

1. Download x2go client:

2020-03-20: For Windows, please use the version linked to below. Latest version is causing issues for some users.

OS X Users will need to download and install the X11 libraries from: http://xquartz.macosforge.org/landing/

2. Install x2go client.

3. Configure new x2go session:

  • Server FQDN: ssh-soc.ece.ubc.ca
    • Note that at this time, access to ssh-soc from off-campus requires use of the UBC VPN service. This may change when ECE launches this as a supported service. See the following link for UBC VPN connection instructions.
  • Session type:
    • You have the option to either launch a full desktop, or launch only selected applications.

3.1. Create a new session by clicking on the button highlighted in red

X2go-1.png

3.2. Populate all fields highlighted in red

X2go-2.png

3.3. You may want to play around with the connection settings to optimize user experience.

With the right connection settings, the experience of using a streaming video service like Youtube over x2go should be fairly identical to a local browser. In most situations, setting this to LAN provides a decent experience but obviously this highly depends on the available network throughput of your network connection.

X2go-3.png

Note that audio doesn’t work correctly with OS X clients.

4. Once configured, start a new x2go session by clicking on the session browser on the right.

X2go-4.png

4.1. Login with your ECE credentials

X2go-5.png

X2go-6.png

Result:

This technology behaves very similarly to Microsoft’s RDP/terminal services. By disconnecting your client, your session is still active on the server and you can resume the session by reconnecting to this service using the x2go client.

Published Applications

1. Configure your client to display icon in system tray

X2go-pub-1.png

X2go-pub-2.png

2. Edit existing session profile or create new profile. Under session type, select Published Applications

X2go-pub-3.png

Save profile

3. Login to x2go service

X2go-5.png

4. Click on the x2go icon in system tray to see a list of published applications

X2go-pub-4.png

Known Bugs and Issues

  • There appears to be key mapping issues when starting a session from OSX and resuming the session from Windows (and vice versa). No fix at this time. A temporary workaround would be to start a second session from the second platform