NoMachine Installation for Biowulf

To run programs with a graphical user interface (GUI) in a unix environment like Biowulf, you need to connect via a terminal emulator such as NoMachine. For example, if you want to run Rstudio Desktop on Biowulf, you will need to get NoMachine set up and running first. Then you'll be able to access and analyze data you have stored on Biowulf.

Using NoMachine to run Rstudio Desktop on Biowulf has the benefit of accessing and running analysis on data stored on the Biowulf/Helix drives. This comes at the cost of setup time and slower responsiveness. If possible, we recommend running locally from your Mac. Below, I provide installation instructions of NoMachine Version 6.10.12. The setup below is informed based on Biowulf instructions found with link https://hpc.nih.gov/docs/connect.html.

Useful Links

Installation instructions of NoMachine

  1. Open Web Browser with link https://www.nomachine.com and Click Download now Mac OS X button.
  2. Navigate to Downloads folder on your Mac and double click the NoMachine DMG install file. In this example, nonmachine_6.1.12_7.dmg file. Follow,

  3. You will be asked to to provide Accessibility Access. Click Open System Preferences button.

    NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/privacy1.png

  4. This will open the pane below. Setting up Accessibility Permission for NoMachine.

    NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/privacy1.a.png

    1. Click on Accessibility in left-hand list.
    2. Click the locked padlock in the lower right-hand as depicted above. Enter credentials.
    3. Find the nxmode with NoMachine Icon below Allow the apps below to control your computer. Click Checkbox.
    4. Once selected, close the padolock
    5. You will be prompted to provide Screen recording

    NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/privacy2.png

  5. This will open the pane below. Setting up Screen Recording Permission for NoMachine.

    NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/privacy2.a.png

    1. Click on Screen Recording in left-hand list.
    2. Click the locked padlock in the lower right-hand as depicted above. Enter credentials.
    3. Find the NoMachine Icon below Allow the apps below to control your computer. Click Checkbox.
    4. Once selected, close the padolock

    Setting up NoMachine to connect to Biowulf

    1. Launch NoMachine. Located in the Applications folder.

    2. Read the Application window content and click the Continue button until you arrive at the window depicted below.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/Screen_Shot_2020-06-09_at_11.46.40_AM.png

    3. Click the New button to create a new connection. Selecting Protocol. Select SSH from the Protocol dropdown menu.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/protocol.png

    4. Click Continue button. Set up the Host. Fill in the Host biowulf.nih.gov and Port 4000 fields. And, check the box Use UDP communications for multimedia data as shown below.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/host.png

    5. Click Continue button. Set up the Authentication. Select the Password radio button.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/Authentication.png

    6. Click Continue button. Set up the Proxy. Select the Don't use a proxy radio button.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/Proxy.png

    7. Click Continue button. Save as window. Accept suggestion or change name. This will create a shortcut.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/saveas.png

    8. Click Done button. Double click the Connection to biowulf.nih.gov shortcut as depicted below.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/Connect.png

    9. If connecting for the first time, you will be prompted to Verify host authenticity. Click the Yes button.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/VerifyHost.png

    10. If successful, you will obtain the window below. Do NOT click the check box Save this password in the connection file.

      NoMachine%20Installation%20for%20Biowulf%20c23b90ff920b400081fc12b651cf4c34/connection.png

    11. There some additional steps required before logging in. I provide instructions in webpage: Running Rstudio on Biowulf with NoMachine.