Graphical access: x2go, X11 and VNC
Graphical desktops
COSMA offers 2 ways to get a graphical desktop, in addition to standard X-11 forwarding: x2go and vnc. x2go is probably simpler to set up.
X2go
You will need an x2go client on your desktop/laptop. This is available under common package repositories.
Launch the client (e.g. x2goclient on Linux).
Create a new session with the following details:
Session name: (e.g. cosma - choose a name that means something to you!)
Host: Choose a cosma login node (e.g. login5a.cosma.dur.ac.uk)
Login: Your cosma user name
Use RSA/DSA key for ssh connection: Select your private ssh kay.
Session type: Select Xfce.
Save these settings. Then, click on this entry, and eventually, you will be given a graphical desktop environment on COSMA.
VNC
While VNC can be used, ssh is preferred.
However, to use vnc, the following steps can be taken:
On a login node:
vncserver :N (where N is a number from 1 to something - try starting with 1)
If you haven't set up a vnc password run:
vncpasswd
From your laptop/desktop:
ssh -Nf -L 5900:LOGINNODE:5900+N USERNAME@LOGINNODE.cosma.dur.ac.uk
And then:
vncviewer localhost:5900
e.g.
On login7a:
vncserver :2
On laptop:
ssh -Nf -L 5900:login7a:5902 dc-user1@login7a.cosma.dur.ac.uk
vncviewer localhost:5900
Resources
- x2gosetup (last modified: 16 March 2020)