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FastX is a modern solution for displaying remote linux apps on your desktop or laptop. You can connect from offsite (non-SLAC network).

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  The SLAC FastX production service, which is now available, is implemented on a cluster of VMs for redundancy

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, performance, and horizontal scale-out capability.  

Connecting to FastX

Installing the FastX client

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You will need to download and install the FastX client. Please be aware that client versions are not guaranteed to be backwards-compatible. Therefore we recommend you download a compatible client from our links below:

Windows client (non_root install)

Windows client (root install)

Linux 64-bit client

Linux 32-bit client

Mac client

Connecting to the SLAC FastX test instance

 

When you launch the FastX client application for the first time, you will see an empty connection window. Click on the "+" icon to connect to our test server. The hostname of the server is "fastx-test.slac.stanford.edu". Be sure to enter your Unix username and you will also need to specify the sci parameter "/opt/fastx/bin/fastx2_sci”
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Save these connection settings. You will then be prompted for your Unix password (unless you already have a kerberos ticket). A session window will open that will track your remote app sessions. Click the "+" icon on this window to launch a new remote app. We recommend you begin by running an xterm on your remote system where you will be running your apps. For example "xterm -e <hostname>.slac.stanford.edu". See image below:
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on your computer is optional.  The easiest way to use FastX is through the browser (Firefox, Safari, Chrome, IE 10+ are all supported).
Go to this URL:

https://fastx.slac.stanford.edu:3443

 

  1. Log in with your SLAC Unix username and password. 

  2. Ignore the Public Key Authentication option – that will not work well since it will not give you an AFS token.

  3. To start a new session, click on the plus box:

     
    Image Added

  4. Inside the command box, type a ssh command like this:

       xterm -e ssh rhel6-64.slac.stanford.edu

     

  5. When your xterm session starts, you may wish to start a lightweight window manager so you can resize and move windows around inside your browser window:

    Type these two commands inside your xterm window:

       twm &
       xsetroot -solid grey

     

  6. Now you can start your linux application by typing the command inside your xterm window.

    For example:

       gimp &
       firefox &

Using the Client application

 

You can also download and use the client application for your Windows, Mac, or Linux desktop/laptop.
You need to get the client version that matches the server version. 
  1. It is available for download at this URL:
  2. Click on the link that says:                          
                     Looking for the desktop client?

  3. After you download and start the desktop client, click the + (plus) icon to configure a new session.

  4. Select "Web" when given the choices of Web or SSH.


Next to name, type in 

   fastx web

Next to URL, type in
   https://fastx.slac.stanford.edu:3443

 Your xterm should start. Run your graphics applications from this xterm session.

Protecting your ~/.fastx_server/ directory

Your ~/.fastx_server/ directory contains sensitive information which could expose your X11 connections to others.
This could lead to a compromise of your account, and/or unauthorized keystroke monitoring.  Therefore, please take care
in protecting access to this directory .  The SCS tool "system ranger" will detect and fix any ~/.fastx_server/ directories
in AFS space which are too permissive, and you will get an information email just letting you know it was fixed.  If
necessary, the system ranger will remove the following entries from the Access Control List:

system:anyuser rl
system:slac rl
system:authuser rl