NX

NoMachine is an alternative remote desktop solution reminiscent of LBX that has made significant inroads in several quarters, and that everyone suggests when I mention or in one of my posts.

So, for the record, here's my take on it:

  • The client (version 1.5 and previous) is one of the absolute worst applications I have ever had the displeasure of running. I will freely grant that 2.0 has improved, even if it does not feel particularly -like.
  • Even prior to neatx, the server was a needless hassle to install and manage anywhere (even after FreeNX appeared), and mucks about entirely too much with X11. I can apt-get or yum on any box and get it working in a couple of minutes. And yes, I am aware of the freenx package in Core 5 extras, and of the peculiar need to nxserver --adduser and nxserver --passwd whomever feels like using NX.
  • The client is mostly the same: I can fire up a 260KB executable from a pen drive (or use the built-in client) in any Windows machine on the planet, and it's nearly as easy to get vncviewer, rdesktop or a  binary on other machines. Or, god forbid, just use plain old X11 forwarding...
  • It has (for me) no significant advantages over or (and by I mean optimized protocols) atop .

I especially like returning to a workspace and finding it just as it was before I disconnected, and routinely use both and  over UMTS links without any performance issues. Even if NX now has support for persistent sessions, I find it an unnecessary hassle.

My only real gripe with is that current  clients have very serious keyboard mapping issues that make it damn near impossible to code or do system administration tasks using a Portuguese keyboard.

Otherwise, I'll take it over NX any day.