X2Go remote desktop¶
X2Go provides a fast and secure to a remote desktop environment on the Neuro Cluster to access graphical applications.
Warning
2-step authentication must be configured before logging into X2Go
install¶
For Windows,
download and install the X2go client from the X2Go official website.
For MacOS,
Install XQuartz
XQuartz is required for graphical display on macOS.
Download and install the latest version from xquartz.org.
Crucial Step: After installation, log out and log back in (or restart your Mac) for XQuartz to be set as the default X11 server.
Install X2Go Client
Download the appropriate .dmg file for your macOS version from the X2Go official website.
For newer macOS (10.13+): Use the DMG labeled 10.13 and higher.
Open the DMG file and drag the X2GoClient icon into your /Applications folder.
configure¶
Open the X2Go client program
Create a new session
If a ‘Session Preferences’ window doesn’t appear, then select Session -> New Session from the file menu
Session Name: You can write anything here
Host: Choose from a host in the table below. I recommend choosing nx1.neuro.berkeley.edu or nx2.neuro.berkeley.edu, which offer more CPUs at a higher speed.
Login: Type your username on the Neuro cluster
Session Type: Use the drop-down menu to select ‘XFCE’
click image to see full-scale:
Recommended:
Try auto login: configure a SSH key, then check the box next to ‘Try auto login (via SSH Agent or default SSH key).
start¶
First enable 2-step authentication
In the X2go client, there is a session box on the right with a picture of a seal and a menu (hamburger bar). To start a new session, click on the seal. To edit your session preferences, click on the menu button.
Type your password in the field provided.
A new window will open requesting a ‘Verification Code’. Open the Google Authenticator app on your device, and look for the 6 digit code. Type that code into the window requesting the ‘Verification Code’.
managing your x2go session¶
By default, your x2go session will remain active and running… even if the x2go application is closed, or internet access is lost.
suspend¶
When you close the x2go application (or lose internet access), you will remain logged in, and your x2go session will continue to run. You may resume the x2go connection from any computer. This is called suspend and resume, because your x2go session is running in the background, without an active connection to the neuro cluster.
terminate¶
To terminate (log out) of your x2go session, you may either
click the ‘power’ button.
… or log into a different x2go server (nx1-nx6). The previous x2go session will be terminated automatically.
If you want to resume a X2Go session, but forgot where it’s running, then log into a Neuro cluster computer with secure shell, and run the ‘cjobs’ command.
performance¶
for best performance…
When using secure shell (SSH) or python notebook, log into the server where your X2Go session is running.
Please do not log into multiple servers simultaneously. If you want to run jobs in parallel, please use Grid Engine.
Use your local web browser to display the Jupyter Notebook.
If you experience network lag…
in the office, use a wired network connection. Shared wireless networks may cause lag if somebody is transferring data.
disable backup software on your computer (dropbox, Google drive, Box, etc)
confirm that your (graphics) application uses a graphics processor to render images. For a list of applications that use a graphics processor, run ‘gapp’ from the command line.
if you continue to experience performance problems, email support-neuro@berkeley.edu. Please include the following information:
description of problem, e.g. slow screen updates, analysis takes longer to complete, etc
name of server, e.g. nx1
name of program
command line used to run program
error message
troubleshooting¶
login fails¶
If you receive an error when logging in via X2Go, then
wait a few minutes. The X2Go state database is refreshed every 5-10 minutes
log into a server. I recommend nx1 or nx2, for access to the newest hardare.
email support-neuro@berkeley.edu. If you’ve waited a few minutes, and want to resume your session, then email me. Sometimes I can help ;)
