5.3 How to Configure a Distributed Session in Standalone Mode

You can use Remote Session Services to improve performance where your network configuration causes delays that make running a remote X client application difficult or when using an X client application that transmits large amounts of data, such as the GNOME 3 Desktop. This configuration can also resolve problems using XDMCP when you are connecting through a VPN.

Before you begin

To configure and start your session

  1. From the user's workstation, start X Manager.

  2. Under Session Definitions, create a new session (or select an existing session). In the General tab, under Remote session services, do the following:

    • Select High-latency network performance.

    • For Host name specify the name of the computer on which you installed Remote Session Services.

    • (Optional) For User name and Password, specify valid credentials on this computer. Note: The password is saved in clear text in the database.

  3. To set how the X protocol is compressed from the X client on the host to your workstation, select one of the following items in the Compression list:

    • Never may improve performance if bandwidth is less limiting than CPU or memory.

    • Dynamic enables compression only when the bandwidth is low enough to affect performance. With this option selected, Reflection X Advantage measures the bandwidth of data traveling from the protocol router to each remote X server and automatically compresses the protocol when the bandwidth is low.

    • Always is the default. This may provide better performance where CPU and memory resources are less limiting than bandwidth.

  4. To adjust the level of compression, use the slider control. Higher levels of compression improve performance but also reduce quality.

    NOTE:In most cases, the default compression level provides the best balance of performance and quality.

  5. Under X Clients or XDMCP Connections, create a new definition (or select an existing one) and enter the required connection information. For Default session, use the drop-down list to select the Remote Session Services session you just configured.

  6. Start your X client or XDMCP connection.

    If you did not specify a password under Remote session services in the session definition, you'll see two prompts. The first is to authenticate to the Remote Session Services host. This is followed by a second prompt (if required) to authenticate to the X client host. If you don't want to save your password, and you're running Remote Session Services on the same host as the X client, you can avoid the second prompt by configuring single sign-on, as described in the next procedure.

    In the Session Status display for your running session, under X Servers, you will see an entry for your workstation computer. If high latency is detected in your network connection, you'll see an additional entry for the headless X server. The headless X server will be located on the remote session node.

The next procedure uses a client connection method called Remote Session Services. This connection type lets you authenticate with a single logon prompt without requiring you to save your password.

To configure single sign-on for sessions using Remote Session Services

  1. Under X Clients, select the client that uses your Remote Session Services session.

  2. Set Connection method to Remote Session Services.