faq-remote-X11-beta.md
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-# Remote X11 (beta) - x2go and xpra
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+# Persistent Remote X11 connections
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-In general x2go is easier to use and sufficient for most scenarios. Xpra has better performance and uses less resources. Both clients connect through ssh and are generally faster than ssh -Y. Support for these is beta, x2go is more familiar to the support staff. Most linux systems do not have these tools installed, so you may need to request them.
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-
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-We recommend using x2go. x2go is more familiar to the support staff and it is easier to use.
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+[X2GO](x2go.org) and [XPRA](xpra.org) can be used to run (and interact with) GUI applications on remote hosts.
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+Please [contact us](mailto:help@sbgrid.org) if your SBGrid-supported remote host lacks pre-requisite server-side software, such as the `xpra` program.
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## x2go
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You can adjust the resolution after the session has started.
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-### Xpra
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-
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-xpra has been described as 'tmux for X11'. It uses x264 encoding.
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-
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-#### OSX to Linux workstation usage
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-
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-For Mac OSX newer than 10.9 the installer is on their downloads page
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-<https://www.xpra.org/trac/wiki/Download>
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-
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-GUI version -
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-<https://xpra.org/dists/osx/x86_64/Xpra.pkg>
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+## Xpra
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-For command line usage please us the 'pkg' installer located here -
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-<https://xpra.org/dists/osx/x86_64/Xpra.pkg>
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+### macOS (x86_64) to remote Linux workstation
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+[Download](https://xpra.org/dists/osx/x86_64/Xpra.pkg) the installer.
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-#### xpra gui
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+### On remote workstation
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On remote system - copy xpra-launch.sh to your home folder and ./xpra-launch.sh or useone of the lines below.
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#### Full desktop
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-tmux new-session -d -s "xpra-desktop" "xpra start-desktop --start=mate-session :$((10 + RANDOM % 999)) --pulseaudio=no --daemon=no"
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+`tmux new-session -d -s "xpra-desktop" "xpra start-desktop --start=mate-session :$((10 + RANDOM % 999)) --pulseaudio=no --daemon=no"`
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#### Minimal termial window
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-tmux new-session -d -s "xpra-terminal" "xpra start --start=mate-terminal :$((10 + RANDOM % 999)) --pulseaudio=no --daemon=no"
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+`tmux new-session -d -s "xpra-terminal" "xpra start --start=mate-terminal :$((10 + RANDOM % 999)) --pulseaudio=no --daemon=no"`
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-#### open xpra gui
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+### On local computer
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-Select mode ssh - enter username, host and password info. If there is only one xpra session it will automatically connect to it. You can also save that info to a config file and launch that after.
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+Launch the XPRA gui. Select mode ssh - enter username, host and password info. If there is only one xpra session it will automatically connect to it. You can also save that info to a config file and launch that after.
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To end the session on the remote system either tmux a and Ctrl-c or 'xpra stop'
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-### xpra cli - keep it simple
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+### xpra cli - keep it simple (for more experienced XPRA users)
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On your local Mac OSX system open a terminal window and run
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`xpra start ssh/oconnor@sch-boltzmann/42 --start-child=xterm`
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To disconnect, just ^c from the original terminal window(not the xterm that you connected to), or if you connect from another system it will automatically detach.
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-reattach to attach -
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+#### Reattach to existing desktop
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`xpra attach ssh/oconnor@sch-boltzmann/42`
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