Installing and configuring NX Client.

This document briefly describes how to download and configure the NX Client to enable remote access. For full documentation of the NX client features, please consult the NoMachine site

A video tutorial describing downloading, installation and configuration of the NX client on a Windows XP machine is also available.

Download and installation

Download the NX client for your operating system from NoMachine. The client is available as "click-to-install" packages for Windows and Mac OS X. If you install on Windows, also download all the available add-on fonts from the download page. Follow the installation instructions provided on the NoMachine site. Linux packages are available in "rpm" format for RedHat/Fedora and in "deb" format for Debian/Ubuntu. A tar.gz package is also available for an independent install.

Configure

Windows: Double click on 'NX Client for Windows' shortcut on your desktop. Or if you did not select to have the shortcut, then you can find the "NX Client" under Start -> All Programs -> NX Client for windows -> NX Client for Windows
Mac OS X: In the "Applications" folder, click on "NX Client for OSX"
Linux: type nxclient from a shell window.
% nxclient
The following window will appear when the NX Client is started for the first time, click Next to continue.

Follow these instructions to continue setting up NX client.

Enter an mnemonic to use as Session name. We recommend including the name of the server in the name (either smbnxs1 or smbnxs2, see below) and, if several people will be using the same account for simultaneous remote access, your own name.

Important! If two clients are using the same account on the same server with the same session name , the second client will steal the session from the first. Please make sure you use unique session names if you connect from more than one computer at the same time.
Enter smbnxs1.slac.stanford.edu or smbnxs2.slac.stanford.edu in the host field. Tip: It can be useful to configure two different sessions, one connecting to each server (so that you can easily try connecting to the second one in case the first one is down).
Modify the type of Internet connection you are using. In practice the "ADSL" setting seems to work best even when the actual connection speed is much faster.
Click Next when finished.

Window manager and other options.

Select CDE as your window manager. Please note that this will start our standard window manager called Xfce4 which has been customized for use with the Macromolecular Crystallography Beamlines. Other window managers, Gnome and KDE, are disabled.
Do NOT disable the SSL encryption of all traffic. If the session is not encrypted, connection will be denied.
Click Next when finished.

Shortcut and Advanced Options

Check the Create shortcut on desktop if you like having desktop shortcuts.
Select Show the Advance Configuration dialog, this will allow you to modify any of the above settings, plus a few more esoteric ones before login if desired. Then press Finish.

Post configuration

The options that you may be interested in changing are the Desktop size, Keyboard layout, font style and size. The options available here differs slightly depending on operating system.
Change any configurations if desired and click Ok .

Extra configuration for Windows Vista

If you are using Windows Vista and experience problems with high CPU usage or a crashing NXwin.exe process, follow the instructions below.
Under the "Advanced" tab in the configuration, check the box that disables DirectDraw for rendering

Login

Login to SMB network

Now you have finished configuring your NX client. The following window will appear from now on when you start your NX client.
The login name and password must be the ones for your SSRL SMB account. If you do not have an account, you must request one before you can log in.
Click Login . The configuration can be changed at any time by clicking the Configure... button.

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Installing and configuring NX Client. This document briefly describes how to download and configure the NX Client to enable remote access. For full documentation of the NX client features, please consult the NoMachine site A video tutorial describing downloading, installation and configuration of the NX client on a Windows XP machine is also available. Download and installation Download the NX client for your operating system from NoMachine. The client is available as "click-to-install" packages for Windows and Mac OS X. If you install on Windows, also download all the available add-on fonts from the download page. Follow the installation instructions provided on the NoMachine site. Linux packages are available in "rpm" format for RedHat/Fedora and in "deb" format for Debian/Ubuntu. A tar.gz package is also available for an independent install. Configure Windows: Double click on 'NX Client for Windows' shortcut on your desktop. Or if you did not select to have the shortcut, then you can find the "NX Client" under Start -> All Programs -> NX Client for windows -> NX Client for Windows Mac OS X: In the "Applications" folder, click on "NX Client for OSX" Linux: type nxclient from a shell window. `% nxclient` The following window will appear when the NX Client is started for the first time, click Next to continue. Follow these instructions to continue setting up NX client. Enter an mnemonic to use as Session name. We recommend including the name of the server in the name (either smbnxs1 or smbnxs2, see below) and, if several people will be using the same account for simultaneous remote access, your own name. Important! If two clients are using the same account on the same server with the same session name , the second client will steal the session from the first. Please make sure you use unique session names if you connect from more than one computer at the same time. Enter smbnxs1.slac.stanford.edu or smbnxs2.slac.stanford.edu in the host field. Tip: It can be useful to configure two different sessions, one connecting to each server (so that you can easily try connecting to the second one in case the first one is down). Modify the type of Internet connection you are using. In practice the "ADSL" setting seems to work best even when the actual connection speed is much faster. Click Next when finished. Window manager and other options. Select CDE as your window manager. Please note that this will start our standard window manager called Xfce4 which has been customized for use with the Macromolecular Crystallography Beamlines. Other window managers, Gnome and KDE, are disabled. Do NOT disable the SSL encryption of all traffic. If the session is not encrypted, connection will be denied. Click Next when finished. Shortcut and Advanced Options Check the Create shortcut on desktop if you like having desktop shortcuts. Select Show the Advance Configuration dialog, this will allow you to modify any of the above settings, plus a few more esoteric ones before login if desired. Then press Finish. Post configuration The options that you may be interested in changing are the Desktop size, Keyboard layout, font style and size. The options available here differs slightly depending on operating system. Change any configurations if desired and click Ok . Extra configuration for Windows Vista If you are using Windows Vista and experience problems with high CPU usage or a crashing NXwin.exe process, follow the instructions below. Under the "Advanced" tab in the configuration, check the box that disables DirectDraw for rendering Login Login to SMB network Now you have finished configuring your NX client. The following window will appear from now on when you start your NX client. The login name and password must be the ones for your SSRL SMB account. If you do not have an account, you must request one before you can log in. Click Login . The configuration can be changed at any time by clicking the Configure... button.

Technical questions: Webmaster Content questions: Edgar Estebanez
Last modified:Tuesday, 23-Jan-2018 15:41:54 PST.