New install – what do I need

[stanj]

I am new to NoMachine and have a few questions on the process that is tied to how we want to use it.

Some background:

I am in the process of installing a packaged system with in-house packaged software and high end graphics onto on a Linux RHEL7 VM. This package currently runs on Linux Laptops and Physical Servers. The system uses NVIDIA drivers along with X Server.

I have installed the software on the Linux RHEL7 VM and have been working with NVIDIA support to get to the point where the VM boots without errors. However, the VM console is blank after reboot (black). NVIDIA support states the system is up but in order to see a screen, Horizon View is required or something like NoMachine or VNC is required to access the console.

I am at the point where I need to install NoMachine.

What do I need to install to on the Linux VM and on my Win10 PC to access the Linux RHEL7 VM console screen?

Thanks

[Britgirl]

Hi, on your Linux VM it depends what you want from NoMachine 🙂 You can install either the free version or Enterprise Desktop (compare here: https://www.nomachine.com/remote-access-for-your-needs), either of these allow access to the physical display and support HW encoding.

To access the host where you’ve installed any of these mentioned above, you need to install either NoMachine, the free package, as it also includes what you need to be able to connect; or you can install Enterprise Client. More about this is here: https://www.nomachine.com/product&p=NoMachine%20Enterprise%20Client.

 

Further information about H.264 hardware encoding is available here: https://www.nomachine.com/AR10K00706

[stanj]

Hi,

Ok,

I have  copied NoMachine_6.4.6_1_x86_64.rpm onto the Linux VM which i believe is the free version

I have not installed it yet.

I assume i then need NoMachine_6.4.6_5 for my Win10 PC to access the Linux VM?

The VM has a NVIDIA GM200GL Quadro set as PCI Passthrough.

Will i need to enable H.264?

Thanks

 

[Britgirl]

The VM has a NVIDIA GM200GL Quadro set as PCI Passthrough.

Will i need to enable H.264?

if the card is properly visible to the guest system in the VM, nvenc should at least try to initialize, and will then be visible to NoMachine automatically.

 

I assume i then need NoMachine_6.4.6_5 for my Win10 PC to access the Linux VM?

As I mentioned earlier, you can either install NoMachine, the free package NoMachine or Enterprise Client on the connecting client.

[stanj]

I loaded the free version on the RHEL7 VM and installed the client on Win 2016 Server

When I log into the RHEL7 VM with NoMachine, I get a black screen (attached)?

According to NVIDIA support, i should be able see the screen on the RHEL7 Server that has the graphics.

On the server, i started the based software we use, and see the below

 

video_renderer: Fatal ERROR: unable to open X Display

DISPLAY environment variable is ‘(null)’

Not sure if i need to change a setting on the RHEL7 or the Client

 

Attachments:

1. Doc3.pdf

[Britgirl]

Please check if an X process is running. You can do that by executing ps -ef | grep X.

Send us /var/log/Xorg.0.log if present.

Send us the server side logs (possibly with debug level enabled). To do that you need to follow the instructions here: https://www.nomachine.com/DT10O00163

You can submit all your attachments to forum[at]nomachine[dot]com.

[stanj]

ok,,

 

Are you saying to email the logs to  :  forum_at_nomachine_dot_com ?

 

If so, what should the subject line say?

 

[Britgirl]

Yes, please make reference to your topic either in the subject or body, so we know who they are from. Thanks!

[graywolf]

Hello stanj.

It looks like your X server started but it is not fully functional because no screen is attached to the video out.

You can try one of the following:

1. Turn display manger and X server off. NoMachine would create its own virtual display server when you try to connect, but you lose the grahics hardware acceleration.
2. Setup the X server to run headless. This guide could be useful: Headless NVIDIA Mini How-To

[stanj]

Hi

Sorry for the late response. I have been out and tied up on other task

For #1 what is the process to turn display manager and X server off? This may help, but we will eventually need the NVIDIA graphics via the card.

For#2, the info at the link is posted below. I already have an xorg-conf file on the system. Is the below suggesting to enter the string — virtual=1920×1200 –busid {busid} in my current xorg-conf and don’t add in –use-display-device=None ?

Create an appropriate xorg.conf file for headless operation:

sudo nvidia-xconfig -a --allow-empty-initial-configuration --use-display-device=None \

--virtual=1920x1200 --busid {busid}

Replace {busid} with the bus ID you obtained in Step 1. Leave out --use-display-device=None if the GPU is headless, i.e. if it has no display outputs.Proceed with the VirtualGL configuration instructions.

[graywolf]

#1 and #2 are incompatible, as you need the X server running if you choose #2.

#1:

Turn display manager off with the commands:
sudo systemctl stop gdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm

If you need to turn it on again:
sudo systemctl enable gdm
sudo systemctl start gdm

#2:

nvidia-xconfig manipulate the existing xorg.conf if it finds one. Create a backup copy of xorg.conf before proceeding, by the way.

Yes, don’t add –use-display-device=None to the command line if there is no display output.

[stanj]

hi

I did option #2 and now can see the KDE RHEL 7 desktop.

Does this VM then still lake advantage of the NVIDIA Quadro GPU card?

[graywolf]

Yes, it is using the GPU already. Run a terminal in the KDE desktop and run the command glxinfo | grep -i render.
If everything is OK, you’ll get “direct rendering: Yes” and “OpenGL renderer: NVIDIA Quadro”.

[stanj]

This is strange.

I rebooted the VM today and connected the NoMachine from a Win 2016 VM RDP session as i did last Thursday.

But now all I see is a black screen with the mouse pointer arrow.

I can move the mouse pointer arrow around the black screen but i no longer see the KDE desktop

 

[graywolf]

Please check the NoMachine server log /usr/NX/var/log/nxserver.log and session logs in /usr/NX/var/log/node/C-../ . You can send logs by mail and we’ll take a look.

Please check if KDE printed any message in your systemlog, try with: journalctl -f | grep -i kde.

[Author]

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