Accessing a Unix Desktop on CUBINlab

CUBINlab enables you to access a remote UNIX desktop over the network. There are several methods available described below.

Connecting from within CUBINlab

Server selection

The first step is to select the server to connect to. Please refer to the cluster page for available X servers. In the following it is assumed you intend to connect to the host newton.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au.

XDMCP

The first remote desktop access method uses XDMCP. The X Display Manager Control Protocol (XDMCP) enables you to use X-Windows over the network. You just need to run a X-Windows Server using Cygwin (usually installed on EE-IT workstations), X-Win32 or Apple X11 server.

1. If you are not directly connected on to the CUBINlab network, you need to establish a VPN connection to cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au.
2. For windows clients, start a Cygwin shell and un the following command:

   X -query newton.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au -screen 0 1024x768+0+0

3. For MAC OSX clients, un the following command in a terminal:

   Xnest :10 -query newton.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au -geometry 1024x768+0+0 2> /dev/null

4. To avoid using too many resources, favour the Xfce desktop. It runs faster and will provide a better user experience.
5. Enter your login/passwd into the login window

VNC

The second access method uses VNC. You first have to start a VNC server on the remote host, this requires you to select a virtual display number and a specific password.

For the first run, do the following, assuming you choose the number 5 for your virtual display:

ssh newton.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au
vncserver :5 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 24
vncserver -kill :5

If it does not exist the vncserver will ask you for a password you will use to connect to it later.

You now need to edit the vnc configuration to make sure you start an Xfce desktop at startup. Edit your ~/.vnc/xstartup file so that it looks like this:

#!/bin/sh

[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
#exec gnome-session &
exec xfce4-session &

You can now restart the vncserver.

vncserver :5 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 24

The server will keep running until you stop it with the vncserver -kill command or until the next reboot. You can now connect to the host using your favorite VNC client. Again remember to VPN into the CUBINlab network if necessary.

NoMachine NX Client

The last alternative is to use the NX client from NoMachine. It combines several advantages of the two previous solutions together, ease of use, sessions can be re-attached and encryption over SSH. Download and install the free NX client from NoMAchine. Then configure the client with the following information.

Host:		newton.cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au
Port:		22
Desktop:	Unix (CDE)
Speed:		LAN

Connecting from outside CUBINlab

It is also possible to connect from outside the CUBINlab network, but for security reasons, only the NoMachine NX client solution is supported. Configure your NX client with the following options:

Host:		cubinlab.ee.unimelb.edu.au
Port:		2201
Desktop:	Unix (CDE)
Speed:		LAN