Using VirtualGL with the VGL Transport

Advantages/Disadvantages of the VGL Transport

Advantages

• Every application window appears as a separate window on the user’s desktop.
• consumes fewer server resources, since the 2D (X11) rendering occurs on the client machine
• supports stereographic and overlay rendering

Disadvantages

• The VGL Transport relies on the chatty remote X11 protocol.
  As a result, the VGL Transport is not recommended for use on high-latency or low-bandwidth networks.
• As with any remote X11 app, if the network connection drops, then the application will exit.

Using VirtualGL with the VGL Transport requires four general steps.

1. Install VirtualGL on your local machine.
2. Start an X Server on your local machine.
3. Connect to JURECAVIS with vglconnect -s.
4. Start the application with vglrun.

1. Install VirtualGL …

Before you use can call vglconnect -s <userid>@jurecavis.fz-juelich.de you have to install VirtualGL on your local machine:

• Linux/MacOSX - ​http://www.virtualgl.org
• Windows+Cygwin - ​http://www.virtualgl.org/vgldoc/2_2/#hd004005
• Windows+Exceed - ​http://www.virtualgl.org/vgldoc/2_2/#hd004004

​| more ...

2. Start an X Server …

Start an X Server on your local machine.

You can start the VNC server ...

• ... on an interactive vis login node
  • + no batch system == instant access
  • -- system is shared with other users
• ... on a dedicated vis node
  • + system is not shared (exclusive use)
  • -- access through batch system