Virtual vs remote desktop

[bgmarchand]

I’m using the free version of NX right now, and it all seems to work differently than I remember a few years back. It used to be that it would create a virtual desktop for you, literally with its own login screen. So, even if the user was already logged into the computer on a specific session, the one created by NX was totally independent of that. Now, it seems to default to a remote desktop type functionality. How do I make it go back to the virtual session approach? I found this link online, which seemed to suggest how to do it,

https://www.nomachine.com/creating-new-virtual-desktop-sessions

However, I’m running the Mac version of the client software, and I don’t see some of those options on there. Does anyone know how to do this?

 

[Bilbotine]

Hi bgmarchand,

The free 3 worked as a terminal server limited to 2 users. This functionality (virtual desktop) is no longer available in the free version.

In order to have this feature, you can try the NoMachine Workstation. You can download a 30-days evaluation version here : https://www.nomachine.com/download-enterprise#NoMachine-Workstation.

[drastrogeek]

Thanks Bilbotine. So, I installed the Workstation trial version, and that indeed allowed me to create a virtual desktop as I remembered. However, I vividly remember the virtual desktop being blazing fast back when it was part of the free version, many years ago. There seems to be a very notable decrease in performance between the virtual desktop and the remote desktop features. Why do you suppose that would be?  The workstation I’m logging into is super fast with a high end NVIDIA card, so I know it’s not for lack of hardware features. Is there something I can do in the configuration to speed up the performance of a virtual desktop connection? Maybe the trial version is purposefully slowed down?

[Bilbotine]

Hello drastrogeek,

I can confirm that the trial version is not slowed down on purpose. This is not our aim.

That said, it is difficult to compare the current version with the one you tried years ago.

The slow down you experienced could be caused by various parameters: bandwidth limitations, a more modern remote desktop that is more graphicaly intense, etc.

[drastrogeek]

Thanks again Bilbotine.

Like I said, the regular remote desktop function works well, and is indeed quite fast. The slow performance seems to be strictly restricted to the virtual desktop function. Anyway, I appreciate your comments. Thanks for trying.

[Bilbotine]

Hello drastrogeek,

Please try to disable the lightweight mode. It will make virtual sessions use the same protocol as physical sessions.

The article “The lightweight mode in X-Window virtual desktop” (https://www.nomachine.com/AR02L00779) will help you if needed.

[Author]

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