NX Client Configuration

This document desribes the configuration of the NX Client version 3.x, which can be used only with NX Servers version 3.x.

On all Green PCs, the NX client will be upgraded automatically to the version 3.x on September 3rd.
If you like to install or upgrade the NX client manually on a Linux standard installation, install the following RPMS:

nxclient-3.2.0-9 from /afs/psi.ch/software/linux/dist/scientific/46/beta/ (SL4) or /afs/psi.ch/software/linux/dist/scientific/51/beta/ (SL5). These RPMS will be available in the PSI YUM repository after the update on September 3rd.
nxclient-psi from the PSI YUM repository.

Example:

   rpm -Uvh /afs/psi.ch/software/linux/dist/scientific/46/beta/nxclient-3.2.0-9.i386.rpm
   yum install nxclient-psi
   # run this command: 
   /usr/sbin/psi-nxclientkey

To get NX client 3.x before September 3rd on a Windows XP Standard installation, please, contact Niklaus Baumann.

NX Servers Version 3.x

The following NX Servers (version 3.x) are available for testing for AIT users:

LCSL4A - Linux Cluster SL4 64-bit;
LLCSL5A - Linux Login Cluster SL5 32-bit;

These hosts will be open for all PSI users on September 3rd, 2008.
Note:

LLCX (Linux Login Cluster SL4 32-bit) will be upgraded to version 3.x on September 3rd, 2008.
LLC (Linux Login Cluster SL3 32-bit) will not be upgraded to version 3.x because Scientific Linux 3 is approaching the end of support.

NX Client Wizard

Start NX Client by running the following command:
nxclient &

When you run NX client for the first time from your account, you will be guided by the NX Client Wizard through the initial setup. If you already have an NX client configuration, which is usually located in the $HOME/.nt directory. then you can proceed directly to setting up NX Client Sessions.

You may wish to configure a light weigt desktop that starts much faster than KDE or GNOME, e.g. ICEWM like shown in this example. Define the command to run (/usr/bin/icewm) and check New virtual desktop and save the settings with the OK button.

Set the size of the remote desktop to fit nicely in your display.
Do NOT disable the encription of all traffic.

Check Show the Advanced Configuration dialog for future convenience abd click the Finish button.

Click OK to save the session configuration.

If you do SSH to the NX server host for the first time, then you need to confirm that you want to continue connecting.

Host	RSA key fingerprint
llc5	58:65:1e:27:14:80:f4:35:ec:b9:d3:9b:aa:26:47:b9
llc6	58:65:1e:27:14:80:f4:35:ec:b9:d3:9b:aa:26:47:b9
lcsl4a	20:20:a4:ae:1f:9b:76:3d:14:32:17:06:d7:5a:c0:49
lcsl4b	f7:40:c5:f2:e7:57:e3:30:b3:5b:c7:da:f8:60:d6:8f
llcsl5a	0b:b1:b8:90:3f:28:13:16:35:e6:52:57:0e:e4:6f:81

NX Client Sessions

After installing or upgrading NX Client (version 3.*), you may wish to edit your (user-based) NX client configuration to define and customize specific settings (sessions) for different NX servers.

Start NX Client by running the following command:
nxclient &

In the login window, type your login name and the session name and click the Configure button.

In the General configuration window, customize your Desktop by selecting Unix - Custom and pressing the Settings button:
This example shows how to configure the ICEWM desktop (it starts much faster than KDE or GNOME).

Check the Server Key in case you have problems with the NX authentication:

If you do not have the right key file client.id_dsa.key for the PSI NX servers (LCSL4a, LLCSL5A, ...), then you can download it. The key is a text file; import the downloaded file or simply paste the content into the Key management window, then click the Save button.

Leave the Advanced setting unchanged as shown in this figure:

Do NOT disable the encription of all traffic.

In the Environment settings, adjust the font family and size, if needed, using the buttons in Select NX fonts:

Save the new settings for the specified session by pressing the Save and OK buttons.

Last modified: 2008-08-18 V.M.