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Configure a Desktop Connection

These procedures describe two ways to display a host desktop. The first procedure creates an XDMCP connection. The second procedure creates an X client definition to launch a desktop environment such as KDE, CDE or GNOME.

note

XDMCP is not available if you are running in FIPS mode.

To configure a desktop session using XDMCP

  1. Click the plus sign, , next to XDMCP Connections.

  2. For Name, enter a descriptive name for this connection.

  3. For Type, select one of the following:

    Option Description
    Direct (Default) Use Host name to specify the name or IP address of a host that supports XDMCP. If don't enter a host name, you'll be prompted for one when you make the connection.
    XDMCP Broadcast Displays a list of available host based on what you enter for Broadcast Address. If you have multiple subnets and you want an XDMCP broadcast to reach all of them, you can specify multiple comma-separated IP addresses.
    XDMCP Indirect Send a request to a single initial host. Use Host name to specify the host name or IP address. Depending on the way this host is configured, it may provide a dialog box choose another host, automatically pass the request to another host, or handle the XDM request itself.

  4. For Default session, specify a session definition that is configured with the Show clients on X terminal desktop setting enabled.

    • If you are connecting to a modern Linux operating system, specify a session definition that meets the requirements for a GNOME 3 desktop (see GNOME 3 Desktop Session Definition Requirements). If the X terminal desktop (GNOME 3) sample session definition is listed in the X Manager window under Session Definitions, you can specify this session definition. If it is not listed, you can add it by importing the linux_gnome3_templates.rxd template file. (See Import Installed Templates.)

      Alternatively, you can create and use a new session definition. New session definitions are configured to meet requirements for modern operating systems.

    • If you are using a legacy system, use a session definition that is configured with this setting enabled, like the sample X terminal desktop session definition.

note

If you are connecting through a VPN and are having problems using XDMCP to connect to a session, you may be able to resolve the problem by using a distributed session. With this configuration, the client connector that originates the XDMCP request runs on the X application host and the request does not have to travel through the VPN router. (VPN routers typically block XDMCP connection requests.) If you're using X Manager, see How to Configure a Distributed Session in Standalone Mode. If you're using X Manager for Domains, see Domain Setup to Improve Performance Over a Slow Network.

To configure an X client command that launches a desktop environment

  1. Click the plus sign, , next to X Clients to create a new client definition.

  2. For Name, enter a descriptive name for this client definition.

  3. For Host name, specify the name or IP address of the host.

  4. (Optional) Change the Connection method and specify a User name.

  5. Select your Host type from the drop-down list.

  6. Click the Command down-arrow and select a command that displays a desktop environment.

    note

    Different host types support different desktop environments. The sample commands in the list change based on the host type you selected. For example, for VMS hosts, Session Manager starts the DecWindows Desktop Environment. For Solaris hosts, Xsession starts the Common Desktop Environment (CDE). For Linux hosts, startkde starts the K Desktop Environment (KDE) and gnome-session starts the GNOME Desktop Environment. The commands actually supported on your host depend on your host configuration; not all hosts have a desktop environment installed.

  7. For Default session, specify a session definition that is configured with the Show clients on X terminal desktop setting enabled.

    • If you are connecting to a GNOME 3 desktop, specify a session definition that meets the requirements for a GNOME 3 desktop (see GNOME 3 Desktop Session Definition Requirements). If the X terminal desktop (GNOME 3) sample session definition is listed in the X Manager window under Session Definitions, you can specify this session definition. If it is not listed, you can add it by importing the linux_gnome3_templates.rxd template file. (See Import Installed Templates.)

      Alternatively, you can create and use a new session definition. New session definitions are configured to meet requirements for GNOME 3 desktops.

    • If you are using a legacy system, use a session definition that is configured with this setting enabled, like the sample X terminal desktop session definition.

  8. Enable Always start on new instance. This ensures that a new X terminal desktop window will open when you start this client.

    note

    If you are connecting through a high latency network or VPN and are having problems using the GNOME 3 desktop or a modern X client, you may be able to resolve the problem by using a distributed session. With this configuration, the X client and a headless X server run remotely so the X11 traffic does not have to travel through the high latency network. If you're using X Manager, see How to Configure a Distributed Session in Standalone Mode. If you're using X Manager for Domains, see Domain Setup to Improve Performance Over a Slow Network.

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