Virtual Machines
The CNI has received generous funding from BIO-X Neuroventures for a high-powered compute server which will be used to provide computational resources to CNI users.
Hardware
Information about the server's hardware here.
Software
Information about installed software here.
VM accounts
Information about getting access to a vm here.
Data access
Information about how users will access their data here.
X-Window sessions
We have configured the CNIVMs to use FreeNX. FreeNX is a system that allows a user to access the desktop of their CNIVM from another machine over the Internet. You can use this to login graphically to your CNIVM desktop from a remote location. Users that want access to a desktop session on their CNIVM should follow directions below to install the OpenNX client, which works hand-in-hand with FreeNX.
OpenNX Client
Software dependencies
Before installing the opennx client you will need to install an X Window System for your specific operating system.
- Windows
- Install Xming from the Xming project page
- PennState has a useful install guide which you can refer to if you need help.
- OSX
- Install Xquartz from the Xquarts project page.
- Follow the typical installation procedure
- Linux
- Most linux clients will have an X Window System installed by default.
Client installation
To install the OpenNX client on Windows, OSX, or Linux:
- Download the client from opennx.net
- Follow typical installation procedures
Client configuration
Before you can use the OpenNX client you must configure the connection to the CNIVM - which will refer to in the following directions as 'CNIVM' - please check your VM name before you follow these instructions.
- Run the OpenNX Connection Wizard
- Enter a session name and host name NOTE: The session name is arbitrary and meant to help you remember a given session, however, the Host is important and must be the hostname that was provided to you by the CNI when your VM was configured.
- Select the appropriate internet connection type for your configuration (usually WAN or LAN).
- Hit Next
- Choose 'Custom' for the X Desktop >> then click on "Settings"
- In the Session Settings window > Choose 'Run the following command' and enter 'startlubuntu' as the command > Under Options, choose 'New Virtual Desktop'
- Back in the Wizard Choose 'Available Area' for size of desktop and click 'Next'
- Make sure 'Enable SSL encryption of all traffic' is selected > Click 'Next'
- Choose to create a shortcut on your desktop for this connection > Click 'Finish'
- OSX users might experience a crash of the Wizard when you click finish - this will not affect the creation of the session. Simply click 'Ignore'
Session Initialization
To initialize a previously configured session
- Start the OpenNX client
- Choose your session from the session dropdown list
- Enter your login credentials > Username and Password
- Click > 'Login'
- You will likely see messages about accepting and saving host information. Choose 'yes' for each window that appears and 'don't show again' as appropriate.
- If all goes well, you should now see your desktop
- OSX users will get a warning message about /usr/sbin/cupsd and execution permissions. If you'd like to avoid this warning you can make the executable "more" executable by running the following line in Terminal: sudo chmod ga+x /usr/sbin/cupsd