Using Linux lab computers remotely

To connect into the Linux system is a two stage process:

• Connect into the gateway server: ssh.ee.port.ac.uk using software for a terminal window   
• In a terminal window ssh -X onwards to a host machine in one of the specialist Linux Labs (A2.02 / A2.03)
• Open a terminal and connect to the gateway server using the following command, substituting username with your login credentials. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@hostname

• You will now be able to launch your application from the remote PC, such as Opnet, which will display on your own machine.

Eg. Type in the name of the application you wish to run in the terminal window
example: [ opnet ] or [ firefox ] or [ matlab ] or [ sage ]
You can press the key sequence of CTRL +C to quit if there are any problems

In order to connect into the Linux system using a Windows based machine you will need to have some extra software which will allow remote access to a Linux X11 window graphics environment. We recommend using the successfully tested graphical application called Xming, along with access software such as Putty.

• Install and launch Xming (Xming is a background X window server):

Xming

Agree to all the default options and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.

• Install and launch Putty:

Putty

Agree to all the default options and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.

• Ensure that X11 forwarding is switched on to allow a display on the client Expand SSH from the menu on the left to show X11 Tick Enable X11 forwarding

• Connect to the gateway entry server Select Session from the menu on the left, and type ssh.ee.port.ac.uk in the Host Name field

• If this is the first time you are connecting to the gateway server from this machine, you will be prompted to accept a security key fingerprint. Select Yes to this prompt.
• Login to the gateway server using your university username and password.

• You will now be able to ssh on to a machine in one of the Linux labs A2.02 or A2.03 with the -X options to allow display back to your host.

ssh -X username@hostname [ for example, mouse, rabbit, fox, bode, bell, marconi... ] 

E.g. Type in the name of the application you wish to run in the terminal window
example: [ opnet ] or [ firefox ] or [ matlab ] or [ sage ]
You can press the key sequence of CTRL +C to quit if there are any problems

• Install the Xquartz program for X11 display (xquartz is the official X server software for mac.

Xquartz

• Agree to all the default options, and create desktop/quick launch items if desired.
• Using your preferred editor (we have used vim), edit the ssh_config file is modified to allow X11 forwarding

vim /etc/ssh/ssh_config

XAuthLocation /opt/X11/bin/xauth
ForwardAgent yes
ForwardX11 yes

• Launch XQuartz and select Terminal from within XQuartz (you may need to right-click on XQuartz, select Applications, Terminal).
• Connect to the gateway server using the following command, substituting username with your login credentials. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@ssh.ee.port.ac.uk

• Connect to the lab machine, again substituting username with your login credentials, and hostname with the name of a machine in either A2.02 or A2.03. Accept the fingerprint when prompted, followed by your password.

ssh -X username@hostname

• You will now be able to launch your application from the remote PC, such as Opnet, which will display on your own machine.

E.g. Type in the name of the application you wish to run in the terminal window
example: [ opnet ] or [ firefox ] or [ matlab ] or [ sage ]
You can press the key sequence of CTRL +C to quit if there are any problems

1. Install the epel-release repository:
   yum install -y epel-release
2. Install the X2go packages:
   yum install -y x2goclient x2goserver-xsession
3. Run X2Go from the Applications menu Internet X2Go Client (or run from terminal x2goclient).
4. Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
5. When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
   
   Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
   
   Host: hostname.uni.ds.port.ac.uk where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section at the top of the page.
   
   Login: Your University account username e.g. up1234567
   
   Session type: MATE
6. The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a new profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
7. Double click the profile to begin the session.
8. Enter your University account password and click OK.
9. The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
10. Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.

1. Install X2go package:
   sudo apt install -y x2goclient
2. Run X2Go from the Applications menu (or run from terminal x2goclient).
3. Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
4. When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
   
   Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
   
   Host: hostname.uni.ds.port.ac.uk where hostname is the hostname for the for the computer you wish to access - all hostnames can be found in the section at the top of the page.
   
   Login: Your University account username e.g. up1234567
   
   Session type: MATE
5. The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a new profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
6. Double click the profile to begin the session.
7. Enter your University account password and click OK.
8. The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
9. Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.

1. Download the X2Go client .exe file for Windows from https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php.
   
   
    
2. Install the download by clicking the downloaded .exe file. You can also find the file in your Downloads folder.
   
    
3. If one appears, accept the install prompt by clicking Yes.
   
    
4. Keep all default settings during installation, pressing Next on each window to progress to the next step.
   
    
5. Click Finish.
   
    
6. If the application does not launch automatically, run the X2Go application from the Start menu or from the X2Go icon on the Desktop.
   
7. Firewalls may blocks some features, click to allow access through any notifications that appear. 
8. Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
9. When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
   
   Session name: Enter a name that will help you easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
   Host: hostname.uni.ds.port.ac.uk replace hostname for the one you wish to access (all hostnames can be found in the section at the top of the page.)
   Login: Your University account username e.g. up1234567
   Session type: MATE
   
    
10. The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a new profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
    
     
11. Double click the profile to begin the session.
    
     
12. Enter your University account password and click OK.
    
     
13. The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will need to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue.
    
     
14. You may get a request to allow X2Go through your firewall, select Allow Access.
15. Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down, as it means that you (and others) will not be able to reconnect to it in the future. Use the log off option to disconnect.
    
    

1. Download the X2Go client for Mac from https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php. Click allow to any security prompts.
   
    
2. Install it by clicking the download from the dock or your Downloads folder. Drag the x2goclient to the Applications directory.
   
    
3. The first time you open X2Go n you will need to give it permission to run. Press Ctrl and right click the x2goclient from the Applications directory to show the advanced menu then choose Open.
4. Click Open even though the developer has not been verified. The next time you open the app, you can launch it in the normal way as there will be no further prompts.
5. Ensure you are connected to the VPN.
6. When you launch the X2Go application you will be presented with a blank session profile. Enter the following information then click OK to save the profile:
   
   Session name: Enter a name for you to easily identify the remote host in your sessions list
   Host: hostname.uni.ds.port.ac.uk  replacing hostname with the one you wish to access -  hostnames can be found in the section at the top of the page.
   Login: Your University username e.g. up1234567
   Session type: MATE
   
    
7. The profile will be added. You will need to add a new profile for every computer you connect to, you can add a new profile by choosing Session New session ... from the menu. You can change the screen resolution by selecting your preferred resolution from the using the drop-down menu.
8. Double click the profile to begin the session.
9. Enter your University account password and click OK.
10. The session will initiate. If this is the first time you are remotely connecting via X2Go to the PC, then you will be prompted to accept the verification key, click Yes to continue
    
     
11. If you do not have XQuartz installed, you will get a prompt. Please install XQuartz then log out and reconnect to the session.
12. Your desktop will now appear. Please ensure you DO NOT shut this machine down as you or others will not be able to reconnect. Use log-off to disconnect.