Contents What is FreeNX Terminology 1. 1. Installation Prerequisites Installing the FreeNX server on Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) or Ubuntu Lucid (10.04) or Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (10.10) 1. Installing the FreeNX server on older Ubuntu Versions 2. Installing the NX Client 3. Installing QTNX (Opensource client) 4. 2. Miscellany NX Server Free Edition 1. Neatx 2. FreeNX on PowerPC 3. How to start/stop FreeNX 4. Configuring SSH port 5. Using custom SSH keys 6. Using Custom SSH keys on Lucid 7. 3. Troubleshooting 4. References Related docs 1. Desktop integration wanted 2. 5. Login to Edit Ubuntu Documentation > Community Documentation > FreeNX FreeNX What is FreeNX FreeNX is a system that allows you to access your desktop from another machine over the Internet. Y ou can use this to login graphically to your desktop from a remote location. One example of its use would be to have a FreeNX server set up on your home computer, and graphically logging in to the home computer from your work computer, using a FreeNX client. It's Open Source, secure (SSH based), fast and versatile! License: GPL Note: Running FreeNX as server on Ubuntu with the free "NX Client for Windo ws" from NoMachine on a Windo ws workstation is working fine, except resuming sessions. Terminology The Server is the computer you want to connect to. This is the computer where the FreeNX server will need to be installed. The name of the Ubuntu package providing the server is "freenx". For the example used here, the home computer is the server. The Clientis the computer from which you want to be able to access the Server. The name of the Ubuntu package providing the client is "nxclient". For the example used here, the work computer is the client. Installation Prerequisites Before installing FreeNX server make sure you have SSH set up and is working. Y ou can find the SSH Howto here: https://help.ub untu.com/community/SSHHowt o We will be installing the FreeNX server on the Server machine, i.e., the machine that you want to access remotely. In the stated example, this is your computer that is at home. FreeNX is not included in Ubuntu, so we'll add it from the FreeNX Team PP A. This step will be in the installation instructions for your Ubuntu distribution of choice below. For the paranoid: there is an added security risk involved in using the default keys. If you keep the default keys then everybody will be able to connect to your SSH server as the NX user which is added to your system during the installation. This opens an additional (and unnecessary) opportunity to attack your computer . You could avoid it by using custom SSH keys, as explainedlater. Installing the FreeNX server on Ubuntu Karmic (9.10) or Ubuntu Lucid (10.04) or Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat (10.10) Open your terminal Applications->Accessories->Terminal and type in this command sudo add-apt-reposi tory ppa:freenx-tea mNOTE: If you do not have add-apt-repository installed add the following sudo apt-get install python-software-proper ties 1. If you're using Maverick, run sudo sed -i 's/maverick/lu cid/g' /etc/apt/source s.list.d/freen x-team-ppa-mave rick.list As of this writing, there are no packages built for Maverick, but the packages for Lucid seem to work. 2. FreeNX - Community Ubuntu Documentation file:///Users/apple/Desktop/US2011/How-T o-Freenx/howtoinst... 1 of 8 17/05/11 8:31 PM
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At this point, the repository is added and apt is updated, then install the freenx package.
sudo apt-get install freenx
(note, as of Aug. 16 2010 the above command doesn't install a particular script which appears to be missing from
the package. So after performing the above, download it from here. Next, cd to the directory to where the script wasdownloaded (probably your downloads folder) and unpack it:
tar -xvf nxsetup.tar.gz
Then, copy the script to the proper directory: /usr/lib/nx/ with:
sudo cp nxsetup /usr/lib/nx/nxsetup
4.
Now use nxsetup to install necessary files and create the special user "nx"
sudo /usr/lib/nx/nxsetup --install
5.
Installing the FreeNX server on older Ubuntu Versions
These instructions are for older Ubuntu versions. FreeNX is not included in Ubuntu, so we'll add it from the FreeNX Team PPA.
Add this repository using the Third-Party Sources Tab in Software Sources. When it asks, Reload the information about
available software. Now you can see and install the freenx package in Synaptic Package Manager.
You must edit the configuration files and install by hand:
Add this PPA to it's own list file
sudo bash -c "echo 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu VERSION maindeb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu VERSION main' >> /etc/apt/sources.list.d/freenx.list"
where VERSION can be: dapper, hardy, intrepid or jaunty. More information can be found at FreeNX Team PPA.
Next, copy client.id_dsa.key to your client machine. Ideally you should copy the file securely, for example by running the
following command from the client computer:
scp user@freenx-server:~/client.id_dsa.key ~/
which will securely copy the client.id_dsa.key file from the freenx-server computer to your home directory on the client.
If your client is a Windows machine, just copy the key with your preferred method.
In the nx client software you can now import this key.
After you have tested that authentication is working using your custom keys you should then remove the client.id_dsa.key file
from your home directories on both the server and client machines.
Using Custom SSH keys on Lucid
Summary: When finished, a custom key should have been created, and you should be able log into the remote machine with avalid userid id and password that belongs to the server and client.
Objective:
Custom Keys.
User ID and Password.
Authentication method: PASSDB. (PASSDB: Uses an internal user database.)
Adding the PPA repos
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu lucid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/freenx-team/ppa/ubuntu lucid main
You can add them from Menu > System > Administration > Software Sources
Click the Other Software Tab > Click Add and paste each line separately.
FreeNX - Community Ubuntu Documentation file:///Users/apple/Desktop/US2011/How-To-Freenx/howtoinst...
I told it to Y for custom keys, but it did not happen.
Enabling the PASSDB database
Now, since i opted to use 'PASSDB' as the authentication method, the following also has to be done:
Be sure that the /etc/nxserver/node.conf file contains the following line:
ENABLE_PASSDB_AUTHENTICATION="1"
Adding the User ID and Password to the database:
Add yourself to the nxserver database. Suppose your username is jra:
sudo nxserver --adduser jraNX> 100 NXSERVER - Version 3.2.0-74-SVN OS (GPL, using backend: 3.3.0)NX> 1000 NXNODE - Version 3.2.0-74-SVN OS (GPL, using backend: 3.3.0)NX> 716 Public key added to: /home/jawara/.ssh/authorized_keys2NX> 1001 Bye.NX> 999 Bye
Assign a password for jra:
sudo nxserver --passwd jraNX> 100 NXSERVER - Version 3.2.0-74-SVN OS (GPL, using backend: 3.3.0)New password:Password changed.NX> 999 Bye
Adding SSH permissions for the users.
Add nx and jra user ids to sshd_config:
I did it under the Authentication section.
sudo vi /etc/ssh/sshd_configi (insert) AllowUsers nx jra
Save the file.
esc > :wq
FreeNX - Community Ubuntu Documentation file:///Users/apple/Desktop/US2011/How-To-Freenx/howtoinst...
Install with GDebi from the Nautilus context menu, if installed, or in the terminal with,
sudo dpkg -i nxclient_3.4.0-7_i386.deb
From your menu Open the NX Connection Wizard.
Enter a Session Name,
Enter Hostname (or IP Address),
Enter Port number or keep the default,
Select your Type of connection I chose LAN, and select Next.
Next:
Select the Desktop System you want to use (Gnome or KDE),
Set the Desktop Size (1024x768),
Do not check the disable encryption box if you want SSL encryption.
Select Next when finished.
Next:
Now, choose if you want to Create shortcut on desktop.
Select Show the Advanced Configuration dialog box.
Click Finish.
Importing the custom key file client.id_dsa.key.
In the advanced dialog window under the General Tab, you should see the items you have already entered, and to the right of Remember my password there is a Key... button.
Click the Key button, a window will popup initially displaying the Default Key
FreeNX - Community Ubuntu Documentation file:///Users/apple/Desktop/US2011/How-To-Freenx/howtoinst...