Installing FreeNX on the eeePC

eeePC's Xandros distro is based off of Debian 4.0 (Etch), Ubuntu is also a spawn of Debian... So here's how you combine packages to get eeePC to run FreeNX.

# To open a terminal in Easy Mode hit 'Ctrl+Alt+T'

# Install KDE 'Advanced mode'
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install ksmserver kicker

# Install FreeNX
wget http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/o/openssh/openssh-server_4.3p2-9_i386.deb
wget http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/o/openssh/ssh_4.3p2-9_all.deb
wget http://http.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/b/binutils/binutils_2.17-3_i386.deb

sudo dpkg -i openssh-server_*_i386.deb ssh_*_all.deb binutils_*_i386.deb
if [ -z "$(grep NX /etc/apt/sources.list)" ]; then sudo sh -c 'echo -e "\n#Free NX\ndeb http://mirror.ubuntulinux.nl dapper-seveas freenx" >> /etc/apt/sources.list'; fi
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude install freenx

# this should be done as the user you will login as...
sudo ssh $USER@127.0.0.1 'exit' # Type 'yes' accept local key
sudo sh -c 'echo "AuthorizedKeysFile /var/lib/nxserver/home/.ssh/authorized_keys2" >> /etc/ssh/sshd_config'
sudo nxserver --adduser $USER
sudo /etc/init.d/ssh restart
sudo nxserver --restart

Get yourself the 1.5.0 client (win32 version is mirrored here), create a session pointing to your eeePC's ip address make sure you are on KDE as your Desktop type. You must login with the Login user and whatever password you typed when you first logged into the eeePC.

If you want to simulate the limitations of the eeePC's physical screen you can set the Display to Custom and set W: 800 and H: 480.

Unfortunately, I've not been able to figure out how to get Easy Mode running through NX (/opt/xandros/bin/AsusLauncher not playing nice may be the cause of this), if anyone knows how to get this going, I'd love to hear about it  (post in the comments)...

Note: I find some apps won't run unless you open a terminal window and type 'xhost +', not sure why this is required.

Here's a screenie of KDE mode with display restricted down to 800x480.