X2Go

Overview [1]

X2Go is a remote Desktop solution, which enables to access a graphical desktop of a computer over a low bandwidth (or high bandwidth) connection.

With X2Go, you mainly access Linux computers. The Linux computer you are accessing is the X2Go Server. But you can connect from a computer running Linux, Windows or Mac OS X. This computer is the X2Go Client.

Multiple users/clients can access a single X2Go Server at the same time, with each user/client having an individual Desktop session by default - however, Desktop sharing (Remote Assistance) is possible, too (see below).

For the graphical part of remote desktop sessions, X2Go uses No Machine NX3 technology under the hood.

Basic features of X2Go [1]

• Works well over both low bandwidth and high bandwidth connections
• Disconnect and reconnect to a session, even from another client
• Support for sound
• Support for as many simultaneous users as the computer's resources will support (NX3 free edition limited you to 2.)
• Traffic is securely tunneled over SSH
• File Sharing from client to server
• Easily select from multiple desktop environments (e.g., MATE, GNOME, KDE)
• Remote support possible via Desktop Sharing

Installation

Download X2Go Client here: https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php

Usage

Connect to Concordia VPN

Server settings:

Session name: (however you want to call it)

Host: neuralabcws02.concordia.ca (or: neuralabcws01, neuralabcws03, neuralabccs01) Login: username SSH port: 22

Session type

You can choose between 2 different session types: LXDE and Connect to local desktop

LXDE

Pros:

• You can start a session even when you are completely logout out on the computer in NeuralABC
• Less resources are needed

Cons:

• Doesn't reconnect to a previous session (since the update)
  • Will open a completely new session (even when your internet connection was interrupted)
  • If you have started tmux in your X2Go using LXDE session, tmux will be closed as soon as you close your session window or loose internet connection
  • If you have left an internet browser open in NeuralABC you need to kill it first to be able to use it in your remote session (i.e killall -9 chrome)

Connect to local desktop

Pros:

• You can always continue where you have left
• It will mirror your screen in the lab

Cons:

• You need to be logged in into the computer you want to access in the lab!
• Resolution is not optimal (will use the resolution on your lab monitor)
• Slower than LXDE
• Since everything will be shown on the monitor in the lab, multiple logins to the same computer might not be possible

Reference

[1] https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:newtox2go