Hans-Nikolai Viessmann
bde174b726
refactor CSCS and Meg content add merlin6 quick start update merlin6 nomachine docs give the userdoc its own color scheme we use the Materials default one refactored slurm general docs merlin6 add merlin6 JB docs add software support m6 docs add all files to nav vibed changes #1 add missing pages further vibing #2 vibe #3 further fixes
108 lines
4.8 KiB
Markdown
108 lines
4.8 KiB
Markdown
# Remote Desktop Access
|
|
|
|
Users can login in Merlin through a Linux Remote Desktop Session. NoMachine
|
|
is a desktop virtualization tool. It is similar to VNC, Remote Desktop, etc.
|
|
It uses the NX protocol to enable a graphical login to remote servers.
|
|
|
|
## Installation
|
|
|
|
NoMachine is available for PSI Windows computers in the Software Kiosk under the
|
|
name **NX Client**. Please use the latest version (at least 6.0). For MacOS and
|
|
Linux, the NoMachine client can be downloaded from <https://www.nomachine.com/>.
|
|
|
|
## Accessing Merlin6 NoMachine from PSI
|
|
|
|
The Merlin6 NoMachine service is hosted in the following machine:
|
|
|
|
* **`merlin-nx.psi.ch`**
|
|
|
|
This is the **front-end** (hence, *the door*) to the NoMachine **back-end nodes**,
|
|
which contain the NoMachine desktop service. The **back-end nodes** are the following:
|
|
|
|
* `merlin-l-001.psi.ch`
|
|
* `merlin-l-002.psi.ch`
|
|
|
|
Any access to the login node desktops must be done through **`merlin-nx.psi.ch`**
|
|
(or from **`rem-acc.psi.ch -> merlin-nx.psi.ch`** when connecting from outside PSI).
|
|
|
|
The **front-end** service running on **`merlin-nx.psi.ch`** will load balance the sessions
|
|
and login to any of the available nodes in the **back-end**.
|
|
|
|
**Only 1 session per back-end** is possible.
|
|
|
|
Below are explained all the steps necessary for configuring the access to the
|
|
NoMachine service running on a login node.
|
|
|
|
### Creating a Merlin6 NoMachine connection
|
|
|
|
#### Adding a new connection to the front-end
|
|
|
|
Click the **Add** button to create a new connection to the **`merlin-nx.psi.ch` front-end**, and fill up
|
|
the following fields:
|
|
|
|
* **Name**: Specify a custom name for the connection. Examples: `merlin-nx`, `merlin-nx.psi.ch`, `Merlin Desktop`
|
|
* **Host**: Specify the hostname of the **front-end** service: **`merlin-nx.psi.ch`**
|
|
* **Protocol**: specify the protocol that will be used for the connection. *Recommended* protocol: **`NX`**
|
|
* **Port**: Specify the listening port of the **front-end**. It must be **`4000`**.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#### Configuring NoMachine Authentication Method
|
|
|
|
Depending on the client version, it may ask for different authentication options.
|
|
If it's required, choose your authentication method and **Continue** (**Password** or *Kerberos* are the recommended ones).
|
|
|
|
You will be requested for the crendentials (username / password). **Do not add `PSICH\`** as a prefix for the username.
|
|
|
|
### Opening NoMachine desktop sessions
|
|
|
|
By default, when connecting to the **`merlin-nx.psi.ch` front-end** it will automatically open a new
|
|
session if none exists.
|
|
|
|
If there are existing sessions, instead of opening a new desktop session, users can reconnect to an
|
|
existing one by clicking to the proper icon (see image below).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Users can also create a second desktop session by selecting the **`New Desktop`** button (*red* rectangle in the
|
|
below image). This will create a second session on the second login node, as long as this node is up and running.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
### NoMachine LightDM Session Example
|
|
|
|
An example of the NoMachine session, which is based on [LightDM](https://github.com/canonical/lightdm)
|
|
X Windows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
## Accessing Merlin6 NoMachine from outside PSI
|
|
|
|
### No VPN access
|
|
|
|
Access to the Merlin6 NoMachine service is possible without VPN through **'rem-acc.psi.ch'**.
|
|
Please follow the steps described in [PSI Remote Interactive Access](https://www.psi.ch/en/photon-science-data-services/remote-interactive-access) for
|
|
remote access to the Merlin6 NoMachine services. Once logged in **'rem-acc.psi.ch'**, you must then login to the **`merlin-nx.psi.ch` front-end** .
|
|
services.
|
|
|
|
### VPN access
|
|
|
|
Remote access is also possible through VPN, however, you **must not use 'rem-acc.psi.ch'**, and you have to connect directly
|
|
to the Merlin6 NoMachine **`merlin-nx.psi.ch` front-end** as if you were inside PSI. For VPN access, you should request
|
|
it to the IT department by opening a PSI Service Now ticket:
|
|
[VPN Access (PSI employees)](https://psi.service-now.com/psisp?id=psi_new_sc_cat_item&sys_id=beccc01b6f44a200d02a82eeae3ee440).
|
|
|
|
## Advanced Display Settings
|
|
|
|
**Nomachine Display Settings** can be accessed and changed either when creating a new session or by clicking the very top right corner of a running session.
|
|
|
|
### Prevent Rescaling
|
|
|
|
These settings prevent "bluriness" at the cost of some performance! (You might want to choose depending on performance)
|
|
|
|
* Display > Resize remote display (forces 1:1 pixel sizes)
|
|
* Display > Change settings > Quality: Choose Medium-Best Quality
|
|
* Display > Change settings > Modify advanced settings
|
|
* Check: Disable network-adaptive display quality (diables lossy compression)
|
|
* Check: Disable client side image post-processing
|