FreeNX 0.6.0

NOTE: The method for accessing FreeNX in the Design Center has changed. The contents of this document have been updated to reflect that change. Please follow them carefully to be able to use the new, simplified configuration.

FreeNX is a server that allows remote graphical access to Unix systems in the Design Center in a secure and bandwidth efficient way. (It'll even work over a modem)

FreeNX 0.6.0 help index:

• Availability
• Preparation
• Running
• Display
• Mentor Graphics
• Notes
• Other Information Resources
• Other Topics of Interest

Server Functionality

• Currently available on all Linux workstations.
• Currently available on all Solaris workstations.
• Due to design limitations in the Windows OS, FreeNX server functionality is not available on Windows.

Client Functionality

• Windows
• Solaris
• Linux
• Handheld Linux (Sharp Zaurus/HP iPaq)

On the machine from which you wish to connect (ie, your home computer) you'll need to download the appropriate NX client for either:

Now install the client as you would any program on your client OS.

When starting up the NX client for the first time, you'll be entered into the setup wizard. The important settings are:

• Session - This is an arbitrary name you give to the session. Call it whatever you like. (Something like "SCUDC Linux" or "SCUDC Solaris" would be good)
• Host - This is the hostname of the OS you want to connect to.

  For Linux, use "nx-linux.engr.scu.edu"

  For Solaris, use "nx-sol.engr.scu.edu"

• Port - Leave this at the default of 22
• Type of Connection - Set this to modem, even if you're on a faster connection, to enable the highest level of compression.

• You can leave the defaults here if you're setting up a Linux connection. (Unix | KDE) You can also choose "Gnome" if that's your preference.
• If you're setting up a Solaris connection, change this to "Unix | CDE".
• Be sure to check "Enable SSL encryption of all traffic"

• Be sure to check "Show the Advanced Configuration Dialog"

• Download the SCUDC NX key file by going to the following URL:
  
  ftp://username@ftp.engr.scu.edu//opt/freenx-0.6.0/SCUDC/custom/client.id_dsa.key
  
  (NOTE: You must replace the string "username" with your actual DC username, then enter your DC password to access and download this file.)
  (NOTE2: The second double "//" is NOT a typo. It's necessary, don't "fix" it.)
  (NOTE3: This download will NOT work in Internet Explorer due to a limitation it has. Please use a different browser like FireFox or a graphical FTP client like WS-FTP)
• Save it somewhere you can remember, like your Desktop.
• Click on the "Key..." buttion in the NX configuration screen.
• Click "Import"
• Navigate to where you saved the keyfile you previously downloaded and select the file (client.id_dsa.key)
• Click "Ok"
• Click "Save"
• Click "Ok"
• Tell it you want to save your settings.

• Login - Enter your Design Center username.
• Password - Enter your Design Center password.
• Session - Select the session you created previously.

Windows Clients - (Needs to be done only once)

1. Start "NX Client for Windows"
2. Select the appropriate session
3. Click the "Configure..." button
4. Select the "Environment" tab
5. Check "Use font server"
6. Set "Host" to "fontserver.engr.scu.edu"
7. Set "Port" to "7100"
8. Select the "About" tab
9. Verify that you are running a version >= 1.5.0-138 (If not, upgrade now)
10. Click the "Save" button
11. Click the "Ok" button
12. Log into NX as you normally would

Unix Clients - (Needs to be done each time you run nxclient)

1. $ xset +fp tcp/fontserver.engr.scu.edu:7100
2. $ xset fp rehash
3. $ nxclient
4. Log-in to NX normally
5. Start a terminal in the NX session
6. (Do normal mentor graphics stuff here)
7. (Anything else you want to do in NX)
8. Logout of NX
9. $ xset fp default
10. $ xset fp rehash

• Suspending Sessions - It is currently possible to suspend your session by not logging out and just closing the NX window. This functionality will be disabled in future upgrades to FreeNX in the Design Center and suspended sessions will be subject to unnotified termination. Do NOT suspend sessions.

• When connecting, any firewalling software you have running must allow the NX client to make outbound connections. It is up to you to figure out how to configure your firewall to do this. (Most pop-up a prompt when an unknown program tries to initiate an outbound connection)
• When connecting to a host for the first time, you'll receive a message beginning: "The authenticity of host..." click "Yes" as this is your computer asking you if you want to trust the key you're getting from the host. From then on, the host you're connecting to will only be trusted if the key matches. Otherwise your system will assume there is a man in the middle attack going on and refuse to connect. This is a good thing as it ensures the cryptographic security of your connection.
• If you get a "Connection Error" message when connecting, click the "Detail" button to see a log of errors. Some of the more common ones are listed below:
1. NX> 105 /opt/freenx-0.6.0/bin/../sol2.9-sun4u-64/bin/nxserver: line 849: 3646 Terminated sleep $AGENT_STARTUP_TIMEOUT
NX> 596 Session startup failed.
   You're trying to connect to a Solaris host and have a malformed ~/.cshrc file. The simplest solution is to login to your unix account using telnet or ssh and run the command:
   $ mv ~/.cshrc ~/cshrc-backup
2. NX> 202 Authenticating user: nx
   You've not correctly imported the SCUDC NX key. Please check the directions above.

• This page is based on the tutorial available at: http://fedoranews.org/contributors/rick_stout/freenx/
• The home page for FreeNX 0.6.0 is: http://freenx.berlios.de
• The home page of NoMachine, the company that makes NX and FreeNX is: http://www.nomachine.com

• Click here to return to the Helpme menu.