Accessing a Linux Workstation Remotely
There are a few different ways to interface with a Linux workstation remotely:
- Using SSH (command line only)
- X Window Forwarding (recommended graphical method for applications)
- Over Remote Desktop (slower than X Window Forwarding)
Software needed: MobaXterm (https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/). While not strictly necessary for a SSH remote session, it is recommended for remote desktop and X window forwarding as it bundles together the required functionality for Windows in a single program.
SSH
Open a new session in MobaXterm at the top left of the window:
Click the SSH icon and specify the hostname of the desired computer and username (check the specify username checkbox):
If prompted to accept the certificate, choose Yes.
You will be then prompted for your password. Note: your password will not be visible as you type it, press enter when finished
You should now be logged in!
X Window Forwarding
X window forwarding works by running graphical commands from the command line, and forwarding them to your client machine. This is often much more performant than running a remote desktop connection.
First, open a new connection to the remote server over SSH (see instructions above).
Any graphical command that is launched from this command line will forward the graphical window to your client machine. For example, to launch the PyCharm IDE, I can launch it from the command line:
Or with R Studio:
You will notice that some running application prevents use of the existing terminal session and by default logs its output to the console. One way around this is running the graphical application in the background and redirecting the console output to null:
In the example of R Studio:
In the above example, R Studio is running in the background, allowing me to run other commands, such as free -h. Closing the window will terminate the running background process.
Remote Desktop
Open a new session in MobaXterm at the top left of the window:
Click the RDP tab and fill in the hostname and username accordingly:
Click OK to connect and enter your password when prompted.
Note: if upon connecting the desktop appears small or quite zoomed out on a HDPI monitor (such as a 4K monitor), click the Zoom in (adapt DPI) button towards the top left of the window:
