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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:

    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 configured to Show clients on X terminal desktop. The sample session called "X terminal desktop" uses this configuration.

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: 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 configured to Show clients on X terminal desktop. The sample session called "X terminal desktop" uses this configuration.

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

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