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Remote desktop connection to Linux server (UO)


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This instruction applies to Linux remote servers of the university:

  • kataja6.oulu.fi
  • kataja7.oulu.fi
  • kataja8.oulu.fi

To access the university’s Linux remote servers, your computer must be connected to the campus network either via a wired network connection (university devices only), wirelessly via eduroam, or via a VPN connection.

For the VPN connection, your computer must have a VPN client installed; FortiClient or OpenVPN. In addition, OpenVPN needs an Eduroam profile file to work. There are separate instructions for their installation:

This instruction shows how to open a remote desktop connection from your workstation to a Linux remote server:

If you do not know the operating system and the name of the server, check this page: Remote Desktops.

From Windows computer to Linux server

On the first time:

(1) Load and install X2Go in your Windows 10 computer at: https://code.x2go.org/releases/binary-win32/x2goclient/releases/4.1.2.0-2018.06.22/

  • Installation is pretty straightforwardly and you can do it with default settings.

(2) When you start X2Go for first time, it may ask two firewall settings:

  • Allow Pulseaudio, it is needed if you want get sounds from the server.
  • Allow SSHD, if you want mount your local folders to server.

(3) Create a connection profile with the function New session:

  • Host: enter a name of the remote server
  • Login: enter your university user account
  • SSH port: 22
  • Session type: XFCE
  • Check on
  • On the Media tab > Sound settings: check that both Enable sound support and Client side printing support are unselected.

Open the remote desktop connection this way:

  • Open X2Go and double click the connection profile you have created.
  • If asked, enter your username and password.

From Mac computer to Linux server

On the first time:

(1) If you have not XQuartz installed, you need to install it before you can connect X2Go. Install XQuartez from: https://www.xquartz.org/

(2) Load X2Go Client from: https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/download:start

  • Choose the installer: macOS 10.13 and higher DMG and install it.

(3) Enter the name of remote server and your account on the tab Session:

  • Host: enter a name of the remote server
  • Login: enter your university user account
  • SSH port: 22
  • Session type: XFCE
  • On the Media tab > Sound settings: check that both Enable sound support and Client side printing support are unselected.

Open the remote desktop connection this way:

  • Open X2Go and double click the connection profile you have created.
  • If asked, enter your username and password.

Information: The university’s remote desktop servers and lists of the software are seen on the page Remote Desktops.

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