FastX

FastX is a program used to run graphical applications on our Linux servers remotely. This uses a different technology from remote X, which results in better performance, especially when not on campus.

This also allows for suspending and resuming sessions and programs, while they continue to run. This allows the use of long-running graphical applications.

If you are off campus, you will need to connect to the VPN to use FastX. See our Dartmouth VPN page for help installing and using the VPN software.

Connecting

To connect to a server using FastX, use a web browser. Any recent version of major browsers should work, although we recommend using Chrome since it is the only browser that currently supports copy and paste.

Use the following address, replacing "servername" with the server to which you'd like to connect:

https://servername.thayer.dartmouth.edu:3300/

For example, to connect to babylon1, use this address: https://babylon1.thayer.dartmouth.edu:3300/

When you connect, you'll be prompted for your NetID and password. Enter these and click "Login"

Note: Be sure to enter your NetID with lower-case characters - Linux systems are case-sensitive.

You will then be at the session browser which will display any existing sessions you have on that server. To create a new session, click on one of the Applications options in the left panel. The Applications panel offers different sessions you can create. XFCE is a full desktop session, where gnome-terminal and xterm are just a terminal session.

Once you have selected a session to launch, you'll be prompted to connect via Browser Client or Desktop Client. We recommend the Desktop Client, but the Browser Client is still supported. 

Download the Desktop Client from https://www.starnet.com/download/fastx-client?version=40 for the latest version (the default link you'll be prompted with is for an older version).

Make sure to allow the browser to launch the FastX Web Connect app if prompted:

Resuming

If you have existing running sessions, select the session you wish to resume in the Disconnected Sessions area of the dashboard, then click the "play" icon.

Notes

Numeric Keypad

Is you are using an extended keyboard with a numeric keyboard, it will default to responding as arrow keys, regardless of the state of NumLock on your system. To switch to typing numbers, press NumLock once you are in the FastX session.

On a Mac extended keyboard, there is no NumLock key, so press the "clear" key at the top-left of the numeric keypad to toggle this setting.