Tutorials

 

Research Virtual Desktop Service

Estimated Time to Complete: 15 minutes

Overview

The Research Virtual Desktop Service (RVDS) is the recommended method for connecting to the iCSF/CSF and other platforms within the CIR ecosystem. Using the RVDS will allow you to login to the various CIR platforms via a GUI-based session from anywhere in the world. In addition it allows to login from one location, suspend, then reconnect to the same session from another location.

This Tutorial will show how to create a session in X2go and then connect to the Interactive Computational Shared Facilty (iCSF) via the Research Virtual Desktop Service.

Requirements

  • X2go Client – version ≥ 4.1.1.1
  • UoM 2FA Device
  • Virtual Desktop Account
  • CSF/iCSF Account
  • Some basic command line knowledge
  • If Off-Campus you will need to be connected to the UoM VPN (Global Protect) with 2FA

Further information and instructions for other operating systems can be found by following this link. http://ri.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/virtual-desktop-service/x2go/

Create a new Session

Video

Video Create a New Session

Steps

  1. Open the X2go and from the Menu bar create and new session.
    • Session > New Session
  2. Under the Session Tab enter the following in
    • Session Name: Enter session name e.g. nyx7 virtual desktop
    • Host: Enter one of the following hosts
      • nyx5.itservices.manchester.ac.uk
      • nyx6.itservices.manchester.ac.uk
      • nyx7.itservices.manchester.ac.uk

        Please note: These hosts provide the virtual desktop they are shared by many users at any one time.

    • Login: Enter your central username
    • SSH port: 22
    • Session type: Select MATE from the drop down list
  3. Under the Connection tab depending on your connection speed select one of the following:
    • ADSL if connecting from home
    • LAN if connecting from on-campus
  4. Under the Input/Output tab SET the following options
    • Display: Custom – Width 800 Height 600
    • Clipboard Mode: Bidirectional Copy and Paste
    • Keyboard: Auto detect Keyboard Settings

      Please Note: Allowing X2GO to automatically choose the keyboard settings is usually the best option. If it can’t detect your keyboard settings then keys may behave incorrectly (e.g., cursor keys don’t work or some characters such as @ and ” are the wrong way round.) In this case, choose Configure Keyboard and change the Keyboard settings to match your own hardware. Note that for British English keyboards specify gb (rather than uk). Try using pc105 for the model and gb for the layout. Variant is usually left blank.

  • Under the Media tab UNCHECK the following options
    • Enable Sound Support
    • Client Side Printing Support
  • In order to save the session SELECT OK at the bottom of the window

Start Session

Video

Video Create a New Session

Steps

  1. In order to start the session SELECT the ‘Baby Seal’ icon .
  2. When prompted ENTER your central username and password
  3. On-Campus – If you use the Duo mobile app as your 2FA device, Enter ‘1’ at the prompt and press Enter. Once the push notification has been received via the Duo mobile app ‘Approve’ the request in order to log on.

    or

    If you use a Duo fob as your 2FA device, generate a passcode with the fob, type the passcode at the prompt and press Enter

    4. Off-Campus – If logging in from off-campus you will first need to be connected to the University VPN (GlobalProtect) with 2FA

  4. If you see the following pop up ‘Host key verification failed’ SELECT Yes
  5. It may take a moment to load the desktop once the desktop is loaded from the MENU bar open the Terminal Application
    • Applications > System Tools > Terminal (MATE Terminal)
  6. This should open a separate window with a white background. This is the command line at the prompt $ ENTER the following
    • $ ssh -X username@incline256.itservices.manchester.ac.uk

      Please note: In this example we are connecting to the iCSF(incline) you may want to connect to a different platform such as the CSF or the RDS-SSH gateway please replace hostname accordingly.

Next Steps

You should now be able to create a new session within X2go, connect to the virtual desktop service and subsequently connect to the various Research IT computational platforms.

If you experienced any problems or require further support then please email
its-ri-team@manchester.ac.uk

Further Reading

Virtual Desktop Service

X2go Main Page

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