[LINUX] HOW-TO install NX & LXDE Virtual Desktop to administer your XBMC Live system
#1
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You can use NX to remotely access your XBMCLive system from another local PC.

Here are the steps involved:
Quote:mkdir NX

cd NX

sudo aptitude install libaudiofile0

wget http://64.34.161.181/download/3.4.0/Linu...7_i386.deb
wget http://64.34.161.181/download/3.4.0/Linu...4_i386.deb
wget http://64.34.161.181/download/3.4.0/Linu...4_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i nxclient_3.4.0-7_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i nxnode_3.4.0-14_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i nxserver_3.4.0-14_i386.deb

cd ..

We need to add a bash script so that when you remotely log on, we exit properly when loging off later.
Quote:sudo nano /usr/NX/bin/nxwrapper

Quote:#!/bin/bash
nxnode=$(ps -o ppid= -p $PPID)
nxagent=$(pgrep -P $nxnode -u $USER -x nxagent)
${1+"$@"}
exec kill $nxagent

sudo chmod 755 /usr/NX/bin/nxwrapper

Now we will install LXDE without recommends. We don't want any gdm type of stuff being installed.
Quote:sudo aptitude install --without-recommends lxde-core
sudo aptitude install gksu gnome-icon-theme manpages-dev openbox-themes
sudo aptitude install synaptic

Now on your non XBMC PC either LINUX or Windows install the NX client.
Quote:For LINUX
wget http://64.34.161.181/download/3.4.0/Linu...7_i386.deb
sudo dpkg -i nxclient_3.4.0-7_i386.deb

For PC
Download NX Client for Windows http://64.34.161.181/download/3.4.0/Wind...4.0-10.exe
Then install the exe file.

Now you need to start the 'NX Connection Wizard'.
Quote:Click Next > a new window opens

enter Session name
enter Host IP address
move slider over to 'LAN'
Click Next > a new window opens

Select Unix then select Custom from the drop downs
Click Settings... a new pop-up opens

Click radio button Run the following command
Enter the following
Quote:/usr/NX/bin/nxwrapper startlxde

Click radio button New virtual desktop
then Click OK

Click the box Disable encryption of all traffic

Then Click Next >

Then make sure the two boxes are checked on the next screen
Click Finish a new window opens

In the General tab
Click box Remember my password

In the Advanced tab
Adjust the Cache settings to the max.

Then Click Save
Then Click OK

Then a new small window opens up
Under Login... fill in the XBMCLive username
Under Password... fill in the XBMCLive password
Then Click Login

The small window closes and you'll see a new large window opens with a new virtual LXDE desktop.

Now do whatever you need to do to your system.

Rofl
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#2
Paulpoco Wrote:You can use NX to remotely access your XBMCLive system from another local PC.

Here are the steps involved:

snip......

Since you are posting this in the Linux forum.

ssh [email protected] -X


much more simple

The -X allows you to use you local X server to display GUI applications.

Not to be rude (I know its hard to believe) but that is total madness to do all that crap. Its a complete waste of time for an XBMC Live install and I question the usefulness and chance of fucking something up for those that dont know.
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#3
FishOil Wrote:Since you are posting this in the Linux forum.

ssh [email protected] -X


much more simple

The -X allows you to use you local X server to display GUI applications.

Not to be rude (I know its hard to believe) but that is total madness to do all that crap. Its a complete waste of time for an XBMC Live install and I question the usefulness and chance of f*****g something up for those that dont know.

FishOil, your response assumes that others have the same priorities you do for XBMC use. There are plenty of use-cases where full graphic desktop interaction is needed or at least easier than ssh-forwarding, depending on the need of the user regardless of his/her linux knowledge level. The beauty of building upon a minimal linux install with XBMC is that users can take that minimal install and go any direction with additional software or server needs, and the balance of speed vs. functionality is up to the individual. I hope you don't continue such a vehemently negative vibe on this or any other linux-based forum. Your from-out-of-nowhere swearing is also uninvitied. Not that this is a totally clean forum, nor am I attempting to enforce some non-existent standard here, but I would hope that you would follow the OP's use of language, or lack thereof, as not everyone on here has the same insensitivities as you. Dudes with wives who aren't linux-ignorant sometimes share info from the forum with their spouse, for instance, and I hope that there is at least a "OP sets the tone" on these simple posts where someone has taken time to share a unique solution to a problem, which may not be suitable for you personally, nor perhaps for others like you who place high value on system speed and simplicity. Civility goes a long way. And it just might lead to others feeling more welcome to share their solutions and take time out of their lives to add to the XBMC community.

Paulpoco, thanks for your post. I hadn't thought of forcing a minimal LXDE desktop combined with NX. I currently use NX for my file server, and sometimes also use Putty to ssh-forward Nautilus from my server to my win7 laptop using the

"Connection>SSH>X11>Enable X11 forwarding>X display location: localhost:0"

option, with the

"Connection>SSH>Remote Command: nautilus --browser --no-desktop"

command, and installing XMing on my laptop. This allows me to just do file management when I need to, and at other times I might need the full NX desktop, which is rad.
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#4
FishOil; I use NX server and I am a pretty advanced IT proff. The reason being that I think it is not acceptable to have to log in with SSH to open a connection. I expect muliple, resumable and ad-hoc sessions without using the terminal each time.

I also tried xming. I don't remember the drawback exactly I think it was not working very well with all Ubtuntu versions at that time.
NX server works VERY well out of the box and is a very nice solution. There is a also a free NX project and I assume that the developers at that project are aware of the possiblities of xming....but still see a potential with the product.
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#5
newreality Wrote:FishOil, your response assumes that others have the same priorities you do for XBMC use.


snip...

The beauty of building upon a minimal linux install with XBMC is that users can take that minimal install and go any direction with additional software or server needs

Your from-out-of-nowhere swearing is also uninvitied.

on these simple posts where someone has taken time to share a unique solution to a problem

The OP is talking about a live install. There is only one reason to have it.

I dont take kindly to PC crap so shove your suggestion ......well.... you know where.

What problem are you talking about? There is no problem. This is a solution to a non existent problem.
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#6
Question 
Hello,

I would like to do something like Paulpocos’ tutorial suggests. I need to make a virtual connection from my XP Desktop PC to a graphical interface on my XBMC Live Linux HTPC. I want to run Handbrake on the XBMC live box and control it from my XP PC. The Live box has better hardware for video encoding. I do not need to work with XBMC remotely.

I’ve been researching this for a while, but I can’t determine the best way to do this due to inexperience with linux. I know I can install Handbrake on Ubuntu, but I’m having difficulty working out the details regarding how to access it remotely.

I’m also not sure about details such as how to stop XBMC and start a graphical interface remotely.

Also, would the interface on the Live box know that Handbrake is installed?

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to control Handbrake from my desktop PC.

Thanks
Dennis
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#7
drhendrix Wrote:Hello,

I would like to do something like Paulpocos’ tutorial suggests. I need to make a virtual connection from my XP Desktop PC to a graphical interface on my XBMC Live Linux HTPC. I want to run Handbrake on the XBMC live box and control it from my XP PC. The Live box has better hardware for video encoding. I do not need to work with XBMC remotely.

I’ve been researching this for a while, but I can’t determine the best way to do this due to inexperience with linux. I know I can install Handbrake on Ubuntu, but I’m having difficulty working out the details regarding how to access it remotely.

I’m also not sure about details such as how to stop XBMC and start a graphical interface remotely.

Also, would the interface on the Live box know that Handbrake is installed?

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to control Handbrake from my desktop PC.

Thanks
Dennis

Install VNC & some desktop, launch VNC instance. Connect to VNC instance from another computer, do 'stuff'. Disconnect VNC session.

Or use HandbrakeCLI


--

If you can actually SEE the TV screen, then Synergy is a MUCH better solution: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=90522
Code:
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON `xbmc_%`.* TO 'xbmc'@'%';
IF you have a mysql problem, find one of the 4 dozen threads already open.
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#8
This is exactly what i wanted to do! I even registered so I could post this thank-you.



updated links for NX:

http://64.34.161.181/download/3.5.0/Linu...7_i386.deb
http://64.34.161.181/download/3.5.0/Linu...6_i386.deb
http://64.34.161.181/download/3.5.0/Linu...8_i386.deb

In case these change the NX download page is here: http://www.nomachine.com/download.php
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#9
Becareful
Apple TV 1 with Ubuntu lost Apple TV remote capabilities when following the NX instructions
At least for me it did
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#10
just adding that you can tunnel full x desktop over ssh as well, and not only individual windows.
I don't runt he live-cd, so don't know the exact window manager or command, but there's probably something equivalent to the "gnome-session" command.
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[LINUX] HOW-TO install NX & LXDE Virtual Desktop to administer your XBMC Live system0