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X2Go

Deprecated

We recommend to use Apache Guacamole instead. This applies only for our SimpleVM project type and does not affect OpenStack. We offer to install it on your virtual machines with a single click while starting up. It allows you to use the user interface of your machine at any time without an additional client via your favourite web browser - no further configuration on your part is necessary. Please have in mind, that the usage of Guacamole is only possible, when selected during creation of a virtual machine! Consider our Backup article to use your existing data and tools on a new machine.

X2Go allows you to start your own desktop in the de.NBI Cloud which you can access from any operating system (Windows, Linux, MacOS).

Installation

First Steps

In order to install X2Go, connect to the corresponding machine first. Make sure, that the software-properties-common package is installed. On Ubuntu 16.04 and higher the package should already have the newest version.

Run the following commands to install the X2Go-server on your machine.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:x2go/stable

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install x2goserver x2goserver-xsession

In the next step, install a desktop binding for the desktop environment you like. In this tutorial we will use LXDE, but you can find bindings and install instructions for several environments here.

For LXDE, run the following commands:

sudo apt install aptitude

sudo aptitude install x2golxdebindings

Export key in OpenSSH format for X2GO (Windows only)

To connect to a machine with X2GO you have to export your private key in openssh format. To achieve this first load your private key into puttygen.

X2Go Client

Then click Conversions and choose Export OpenSSH Key. Afterwards save this file on your computer. This file will be needed when you want to establish a connection to a machine with the X2GO client.

SSH_export

Usage

Connect to X2GO machine

To connect to X2Go, you need a client e.g the X2Go client you can find here. As a macOS user make sure that XQuartz is installed.

When you start the X2Go client, you need to enter the session preferences first. Choose any name you like for the session. The following data, most of which can be found on the details page of the VM running X2Go, is of relevance: - The IP of the machine - The port of the machine - The path of your private key. The key can be easily selected via the user interface - The username for the connection to the machine. By default this is ubuntu

X2Go Information

Select your private key, which you use to connect to the machine. For the session type select LXDE or any other desktop environment you have installed in advance. The IP is the first marked information on the previous picture. The port is the second marked information. This information can be found as described on the details page of your VM.

After you have saved the session preferences, you can now select the session and connect to the machine.

X2Go Client