Recommended Linux build

[jumprope]

Hello!  I’m struggling trying to get NoMachine to work on my Linux Mint VM.  I can make a connection, but instead of mirroring what the logged in user sees (ie controling the Linux users session) all I see is wallpaper and a logo.

I’m content to start over.  Is there a guide that shows step by step how to install any version of Linux and make it work so i can control the logged in user’s session?

If not, can you recommend a Linux build that works great with NoMachine and I’ll start there?   I was going to start with something like Mint or CentOS since I’m a total noob, but at this point any flavor that works is fine with me!

Many thanks.

[jumprope]

Update: it’s possible VirtualBox 5.2.7 was contributing to the problem as I had similar difficulty using Kubuntu.  When I downgraded to VirtualBox 5.1.30 the situation improved and it’s mostly usable now.

I say mostly, because sometimes screen elements/text aren’t rendered properly in the NoMachine windows client and/or there are phantom images that won’t go away.   This may have to do with the Plasma environment of Kubuntu, I don’t know.

So the question still stands, is there a recommended Linux distro/build that works flawlessly with the NoMachine Windows 10 client?  I do plan on running Firefox Quantum on one of the VMs, which is why I was looking for some VM video acceleration, but perhaps it’s not possible to have everything.

[Britgirl]

We use Linux Mint for our tests, and to be honest it’s probably one of easier Linux distros out there (and there are hundreds of variations). We’ve not been able to reproduce the problem you are encountering with our standard free version for Linux, and the latest version of Mint. It’s unlikely that a VM would be the cause of this behaviour. Linux Mint is pretty much “out-of-the-box”, and NoMachine installs out-of-the-box on all supported distros, plus we test many, many more, including not so popular ones.

The desktop environment, however, shouldn’t be based on Wayland because NoMachine hasn’t added support for this yet. So you need to choose an alternative DE if you are using it, see our Feature Request for more details: https://www.nomachine.com/FR10N03221

You don’t mention the actual version of Mint you are using, nor the desktop environment (DE). For example, KDE or Gnome? Another maybe?

… sometimes screen elements/text aren’t rendered properly in the NoMachine windows client and/or there are phantom images that won’t go away.

Can you provide a screenshot?

As for Quantum, we have this version on all our test machines and don’t have any issues whatsoever.

So you need to tell us:

– the DE and Mint version

– clarify phantom images with a screenshot

[jumprope]

I couldn’t get Mint to function but it was the latest build available on their site so it was likely Wayland.  I’m now running Kubuntu 16.04 under VirtualBox 5.1.30 and after Googling for some applicable commands it appears I’m running Plasma under x11.

The Phantom issue occurred mostly with Discover, which I guess is their Software Centre, but I can’t replicate the problem at the moment – perhaps a reboot along the way resolved it.

Thanks for responding to my issue.  It seems to be under control for the time being, though I may switch back to Win10 when I get an opportunity.  So many small issues have cropped up and each one requires Googling and often reverting to the command line to resolve.  Given the advantages of Linux though, I still think it would be useful to pin a how-to document somewhere with setting up a basic Linux/NoMachine build, listing the Distro and version, any commands needed to change the desktop environment etc to get a base config up and running.

I do like NoMachine though – the options are clear and you’ve provided some great functionality.  One small improvement might be to offer a fullscreen mode that respects the Win10 taskbar, if that’s possible.  At the moment I have a custom resolution set in Kubuntu for 1920×1080 instead of 1920×1200 so I can still see the taskbar without introducing scroll bars, though I still have the unneeded NoMachine title bar at the top and a bit of empty space at the bottom since the taskbar is not a full 120 pixels tall.

[Britgirl]

Should you encounter the issue again, by all means submit the info to us with all the details to allow us to reproduce and we’ll investigate.

….it would be useful to pin a how-to document somewhere with setting up a basic Linux/NoMachine build, listing the Distro and version, any commands needed to change the desktop environment etc to get a base config up and running.

NoMachine has been designed to work out-of-the-box, so installing on the supported operating systems (which must be the original default installation package that you get from the original provider) is easy, and the software is up and running once install is complete. Unfortunately, we cannot provide installation instructions for Linux distributions – this is the job of the provider 😉

What should I do if I have a problem with Linux or my desktop environment?
https://www.nomachine.com/AR11K00740

In order to cover the widest number of versions for the supported Linux Operating Systems, offers three families of RPM, DEB and Compressed TAR packages. Our knowledge base contains a massive selection of installation and configuration guides, and there are several how-tos which take the user through the set-up or advanced configuration. Where there is unusual behaviour due to a change in the distributor’s default OS, we document it and provide a workaround, or we update our documentation. As I mentioned before, Linux has hundreds of flavours so it would be impossible to have guides for every single flavour out there, which is why we concentrate of a narrowed down selection. That doesn’t mean that the Linux packages won’t work on less popular variations.

Installation instructions for NoMachine on Linux (rpm, deb, tar.gz) are available here: https://www.nomachine.com/DT02O00124#2.4.

[bundito]

Yes, Discover is the name of the KDE/Plasma software store.

 

NoMachine only operates on X11 displays; I doubt a Wayland session would even open.

 

Wayland doesn’t seem yet ready for widespread adoption – Ubuntu announced they’d be sticking with X11 as the default for the upcoming 18.04 LTS release. Wayland was expected to be the primary display tech, but they reversed course and opted to stick with X11.

[Britgirl]

Just so users know how to disable Wayland, it’s written in the link I pasted above.

“Until NoMachine implements support for Wayland protocol users are advised to disable Wayland in gdm configuration by adding the following key in /etc/gdm/custom.conf:

WaylandEnable=false”

[Author]

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