TCBG Remote Visualization Resources

TCBG's remote visualization infrastructure provides remotely-situated users with workstation-like access to locally stored data. By connecting to a remote visualization session over the network, users can interact graphically with data through a standard "desktop" interface, as if physically working at a local machine. A full tutorial describing the procedure for utilizing TCBG remote visualization resources is available here, as well as QuickStart instructions for collaborators/guests.

Some remote visualization machine have session time limits, these machines and their time limits are listed with the dcvcheck command. A time-limit reminder is displayed after starting a session with dcvstart on a time-limited machine. Before a session on a time-limited machine is automatically killed, warnings are printed to that machine's terminals.

Install VNC client software to access remote visualization sessions

TCBG recommends DCV Endstation. Click icons to download DCV 2014.0 (hardware video compression, dynamic display resizing).


For macOS 10.13 (High Sierra), macOS 10.14 (Mojave):

  1. Download and install DCV Endstation 2016.0 .
  2. Delete the library file /Applications/DCV\ Endstation.app/Contents/Frameworks/libz.1.dylib , as described in this NICE support document.
  3. Launch DCV Endstation the usual way, by double-clicking on the DCV Endstation application icon.
VNC Viewer is a lower-performance alternative for MacOS machines, including macOS 10.14 (Mojave) and macOS 10.15 (Catalina).

In VNC Viewer, if you encounter transparent / all-red / empty OpenGL windows, try :
In the "Nice DCV Server Status" window (on the remote workstation desktop),
CHANGE the "DCV Status" setting to::
DCV Status: Switched OFF

Alternative client softwares are available for mobile devices (may negatively impact streaming performance).



QuickStart: Connecting to your TCBG contact's remote visualization session

Run DCV Endstation to connect to the remote visualization server hosting your session.

  • The name of the server will be provided by your TCBG contact. Enter it as: servername.ks.uiuc.edu:1.
  • Let the VNC Server choose the encryption.
  • Accept any warnings regarding the VNC server's signature.
  • Enter your authentication credentials as guest, with no password.
Your TCBG contact must accept your request to enter the session. If your connection is rejected, notify your TCBG contact and try connecting again. Once connected, your session access will be view-only, unless special permission to grant interactive access is configured ahead of time (TCBG members contact sysadmin). Mouse over the top-center of the window to display the VNC toolbar, where you can configure Options and enable Full screen mode. When you are ready to leave the session, select Close connection from the VNC toolbar, or simply close DCV Endstation. Alternatively, your session will end when terminated by your TCBG contact.


TCBG Remote Visualization Resources Tutorial

Remote Viz Tutorial
Overview:
  • Install VNC client software to access remote visualization sessions.
  • How to check the availability of remote visualization machines.
  • Procedure for session owners to initiate/terminate remote visualization sessions.
  • Instructions for connecting to a remote visualization session, even from behind a strict firewall.

  • Tutorial: [html] [pdf, 916 KB]