Building your own Terminal server.
In this Tutorial we will show you how to build your own Linux Terminal Server, using a copy of Ubuntu 9.04 ( you can also use 10.04), the NEATX server and the Nomachine Free NX client. You can listen to a detailed podcast on this topic as on HOW and WHY to use a setup like this and how you can make it work for you. This setup is perfect for small businesses running Linux, An educational scenario using a Computer-Classroom or even for your home : Playing around with Linux on different systems or getting a new lease on life for those old clunkers you have lying around. You can find the podcast episode entitled : KC0037 : Using Linux as a Terminal Server can be downloaded over at
http://www.knightwise.com/knightcast-podcast/751-the-knightcast-kc0037--ubuntu-linux-as-a-terminal-s erver
In the podcast episode we will go into detail about how a terminal server system works , what your hardware requirements would be and, of course how to use it in fun and creative ways. Enjoy.
Your Ubuntu Terminal server is nothing more then a Ubuntu Desktop with terminal server capabilities. This has the amazing upside that ANYTHING you install on the Ubuntu desktop System, is accesable from anywhere and by any user you setup on this system.
So lets start off by installing a Ubuntu workstation ( 10.04) and preform ALL the upgrades and Updates. For installing 'the perfect' system, I'll refer to you to our "UBUNTU AS IT SHOULD BE' tutorial which you can download at : http://www.knightwise.com/knightcast-podcast/669
Start from a fully installed workstation.
Make sure you have all the software installed that you want to use.
Use the commands sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get upgrade to make sure your system is up to date.
Install the NX Server.
Open a command line window and paste in the following line to add the NEATX repository to your system. This way you can install the NEATX Server later.
sudo apt-get install python-software-properties && sudo add-apt-repository ppa:freenx-team Next copy in the following command to update your repositories.
Install the NX Server.
To install the NX Server copy the following line into your command line window. sudo apt-get install neatx-server
Configure your Static IP.
If you have not done so at setup, configure your Ubuntu system to use a STATIC IP. That way all the hosts in your network can find your "server machine".
Check for a free IP On your network ( Make sure its NOT an IP that is also handed out via the DHCP Server of your Router).
(2) Next click on EDIT CONNECTIONS.
Configure a Static IP.
Select the connection that is hooked up to the network where your user(s) will be connecting on. ( This can be (1) wired or (2) wireless , mostly its the same connection your server is allready using). (3) Click EDIT.
Configure a Static IP.
(1) Choose the Second tab of the dialog box ( IPV Settings ) (2) Pull down the selection menu untill it says MANUAL. (3) Click ADD.
Configure a Static IP.
Enter the correct IP Adresses.
(1) Address : The UNIQUE and FREE IP address that you want your server to have in your network. (2) Netmask : The Subnet number of your network. If you don't know this by heard, check the IP configuration of any one of your computers on the network. It will have received the correct Netmask from the DHCP server on your router.
(3) Gateway : The Ip address of your Router.
(4) DNS Servers : Here you can enter the DNS Server IP of your provider or choose your own like the OPENDNS servers or , in this case , the GOOGLE DNS Server.
When you are done : Click apply.
To be safe that your network services have rebooted you might want to reboot your system.
you can still surf webpages.
Configure some users.
If you have just one account on the system, and you are the only one using it (even remotely) you can skip this step.
However if you want OTHER people to have access to the server , and use their own settings and preferences, you need to "'create" those users on the server first.
To do this go to (1)SYSTEM - (2)ADMINISTRATION - (3)USERS AND GROUPS.
Add Users to your Terminal Server.
(1) Click on the UNLOCK icon and enter your password. (2) Click on ADD.
(3) Enter the users Username and set his password. (4) Click OK.
Download the NoMachine Client.
On any machine you want to connect FROM download the Nomachine Client. This is a terminal server client available for Linux, Windows and the mac.
(1) Go to http://www.nomachine.com/download.php
(2) Download the NX Client for the operating system of your choice. (3) Install the application on the operating system of your choice.
Configure the no-machine client to connect to your terminal server.
Once installed The NX Client consists of 3 applications.
(1) The NX Client (in this case for the mac) : This is the actual client that connects to your server. (2) The NX Connection wizard : This is the application
(3) The NX Session administrator : This application helps you to terminate or resume any open "Terminal server Sessions" you have running.
Configure the No-Machine client to connect to your terminal server
Open the NX Connection Wizard. (1) Click NEXT.
Configure your No-Machine Client.
Enter the (1) Name, (2) the IP address and the (3) Portnumber of your server.
(1) Enter a Unique name for this connection so its easy to remember. Once you have configured SEVERAL connections it might help keeping track of which is which.
(2) If you are on your servers LAN (local area network) you can enter your servers LAN ip. If you've setup a server behind a firewall and used a Dynamic DNS setup, you can enter the servers
HOSTNAME ( fe : myterminalserver.dyndns.org ) here.
(3) Enter the portnumber for the connection here. If you are doing this over a LAN, just use the default port 22. If your server is remotely behind a firewall and you have forwarded a DIFFERENT port to your servers port 22 , enter that port number here.
(4) Select the connection method to your server. The lower the bandwith of your connection, the lower the visual quality of your session. ( But the higher the compression ). So choose whatever way you want to connect.
Configure your No-Machine Client.
Configure your No-Machine Client.
(1) Make sure the pulldown menu is set to LINUX.
(2) Set this to the Desktop Enviroment you installed (in Case of our 'standard' Ubuntu system this is going to be Gnome) * Tip : you can install KDE or whatever desktop you prefer ALONGSIDE gnome
and have Terminal clients run OTHER desktop enviroments while your Terminal server runs Gnome.
(3) Make sure this setting is set to the right connection speed.
Configure your No-Machine Client.
Click on the SERVICES Tag and select (1) Enable Multimedia support (2) Click Save
Connect to your Terminal Server.
(1) Enter your password (2) Click LOGIN to connect.
Connect to your Terminal Server.
(1) The terminal server (our original Ubuntu Install) Logged in as User A.
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