wiki:VirtualDesktops

Version 3 (modified by csa, 16 years ago) (diff)

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Windows XP

The ​WinConnect Server Xp supports up to 21 simultaneous connections. Configuration notes:

  • The Fast User Switching should be turned off
  • 'Autologon' should be enabled. The current version is only loading with user logging in.

OS X

The multiuser desktop on OS X Server could be provided using per-user VNC servers. This functionality is provided by ​Vine Server. Unfortunately, current version (3.0) has a bug and crashes while running in Parallels virtual environment. However, there is 3rd party patches fixing that problem.

  • Download and install Vine Server 3.0
  • Download ​patched binary, unpack it, and copy OSXvnc binary to application folder replacing original.

For newer versions of software (if the bug is not still fixed upstream) the installation from sources is possible.

Following actions should be taken in order to setup desktop:

  • Enable Fast User Switching. Go 'System Preferences -> Accounts' and choose "Login Options" near the bottom and check the box to "Enable Fast User Switching".
  • For each user, the following action should be performed during account creation:
    • Log in via Fast User Switching
    • Launch Vine Server (OSXvnc) from inside the Applications folder
    • Select unique port for this user
    • Set "Open At Login" at the application properties
    • Add 'Vine Server' and to Dock and set 'Open at Login' option (right click) in order to autostart.

The following approach is used by users to connect:

  • User connects to the system wide VNC (OsX native VNC server could be used) and login to his account. This is necessary in order to startup personal copy of Vine VNC server.
  • Then user should switch back to the login window (just by clicking on his user name in right-top corner of the screen and selecting login window) and disconnect from system-wide VNC server in order to give possibility of logging in to the other users.
  • Open VNC session to his personal VNC server (on port assigned by administrator during account creation, see setup section)

Linux Desktop

Quite common way of providing Linux Desktop to the remote users is X forwarding over ssh. However, this solution is quite slow and not providing complete Linux Desktop. Much better solution is ​NoMachine NX Server.

  • The clients for Linux, Solaris, OSX, and Window are ​available.
  • ​FreeNX is alternative GPL implementation.

Peripherals Forwarding