We use X2Go for remote desktop connections to CS Linux machines.
X2Go is an open source software for Linux that provides remote access to a Linux system's graphical user interface.
Users need to install the client package on their laptop.
Client softwrae can be run on FreeBSD, Linux, OS X, or Windows.
Download the client software for your operating system from their official website:
https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:installation:x2goclient
After downloading, install the client software.
Instructions to install the client for each OS are available on the official X2Go website.
First choose a CS machine for remote connection.
The webpage https://www.cs.colostate.edu/machinestats/ provides
a list of machines which are labeled for general use. The list is
sorted in ascending order by the "load average" in real time. Pick up any
machine from the top of this list which has the least number of X2Go connected clients.
In this example, we are using the CS machine named "montpelier".
Launch the X2Go client software and create a new session
Session -> New Session
In the new session popup window, configure the parameters as shown in the image below.
Key Points:
- Use the full hostname for the remote machine (i.e., including the cs.colostate.edu part: montpelier.cs.colostate.edu)
- Use your CSU ename for the Login field.
- Make sure you select "Custom desktop" from the drop down menu under "Session Type" and use the command: startxfce4 (as shown in the picture above)
- SSH port must be set to 22
Hit Ok to save this session. It will now appear on the right pane of the X2Go client, as shown below:
From the right side pane in the X2Go client window, click on the recently saved session.
This would bring a credentials popup in the left pane, as seen in the next image
Provide your CS linux password and hit Ok.
A remote desktop session would now open in a new window.
After you are done working on the CS machine, please terminate the remote connection gracefully.
To do this, hit the power button icon on the connection status on the left pane in the X2Go client.
After you connect to an XFCE+x2go session (using custom desktop and startxfce4 command), open a terminal in the remote session.
Type this command: xfce4-screensaver-command --exit