Getting started with NoMachine
Start your journey to the next level of remote computing
Do you need to get remote access to a computer that is on your same local or private network? Perhaps you need to provide remote support to a colleague, or collaborate on a desktop session of another user? Even when you're on a home network or WIFI, having to move to a particular device on the other side of the house can be annoying. Read on to know how to use NoMachine to access your Mac, Windows and Linux desktops. If, on the other hand, you want to access your home or office computer over the internet, jump to the instructions here.
a computer on the local network
Install NoMachine on your first computer
- Download the NoMachine package for your operating system to the computer that you want to control remotely.
- After completing the download, launch the installer.
- Accept the license agreement and click Next and wait while Setup completes the installation.
- To be able to connect to your Mac or PC from remote you need to have a user account for that computer (username and password). You also need to know its private IP address which is assigned to your specific device within your local network. There are two ways you can check your computer's IP address in NoMachine. (i) Open NoMachine from the programs or applications menu. A Welcome panel will publish the local IP address of the computer on which you have installed the software (Fig. 1). Or (ii) click on the !M icon (the NoMachine Monitor) which is visible in the computer's system tray. Click on 'Show the Server Status' (Fig. 2).
- Make a note of this IP address. You will need it in the next phase when you are ready to connect to this computer.
Fig. 1 - The first Welcome panel will show the computer's local IP address
Fig. 2 - The IP address can also be checked in NoMachine Server Status accessible from the NoMachine monitor (!M) in the system tray
- You can now close the NoMachine application.
Install NoMachine on the second computer
- Now go to your second computer, the computer that you want to connect from.
- Download and install NoMachine per the steps above.
Remotely connect to one computer from the other
Step 1: Start your first connection
- Make sure you are sitting at the computer you want to connect from and open NoMachine from the Programs/Applications menu. Click 'OK' to go past the Welcome panel in Fig. 1. The next panel is the ‘Machines’ panel (Fig. 3).
- From the 'Machines' panel you can start a new connection. NoMachine desktops which are advertized on your same local network and any connections which you create appear in this panel.
- Click 'Add' to create a new connection.
- Assign a connection name for identification, in our example it's 'Testdrive'.
- Insert the IP address you noted down earlier in the field ‘Host’ (Fig. 4).
- The default settings of NoMachine server Port and Protocol, 4000 and NX respectively, are suitable for the majority of set ups.
- If you have a long list of connections and computers to choose from, you can filter out entries by inserting the IP address or user name in the 'Search machines' field.
Fig. 3 - No computers were found on the local network. Select 'Add' or 'Click here to create a connection'
Fig. 4 - To add a connection insert the IP address you wrote down earlier in Host. Provide a memorable name for your connection
- If you’re an advanced NoMachine user and need to connect with a private key, smartcard authentication or other authentication means, this can be changed in Configuration.
- Click ‘Connect’ to start the connection. Or you can click the back arrow to go back to the Machines panel.
- If you are in the Machines panel, double click to start the connection (Fig. 5). Now proceed to Step 2.
Fig. 5 - If you are in the Machines panel, double-click on a computer in the list
Step 2: Log in to the remote computer
- You will be prompted to log in. Use the credentials for your user account on the remote computer.
- Click 'Login' and wait a few more seconds while NoMachine connects you to your remote desktop.
Fig. 6 - Insert the credentials of your remote account
Step 3: You are connected!
- Congratulations! Your remote desktop is now at your fingertips.
- You can now control your remote Windows, Mac or Linux desktop, open and edit files to work on documents, browse the internet, listen to your playlist, watch films, transfer some files and more.
Fig. 7 - You are in, enjoy!
a computer over the internet
Install NoMachine on your first computer
- Download the NoMachine package for your operating system to the computer that you want to control remotely.
- After completing the download, launch the installer.
- Accept the license agreement and click Next and wait while Setup completes the installation.
- To connect to your computer over the Internet, you need a system user account on the remote computer and the PC's public-facing IP address.
- You also need to enable NoMachine's automatic UPnP/NAT-PMP port-mapping. Go to Server settings > Ports > Select the NX service, and click on 'Configure'. Make sure the box 'Use UPnP to map the port...' is enabled and select 'Start mode' as automatic (Fig. 8).
Fig. 8 - Enable automatic UPnP/NAT-PMP port-mapping
- Go back to 'Server status' to get the public-facing IP address.
- NoMachine displays the computer’s public address like this: nx://151.1.192.128:29382. Write this information down. If a port number is not displayed next to the external IP, NoMachine has detected that you don't need it in the next phase.
- If your computer's public IP is not displayed, it is likely you'll need to manually configure your router, so that the NoMachine server can be reached over the Internet.
Fig. 9 - The first Welcome panel shows the computer's public IP address
Fig. 10 - You can also check the computer’s IP address in NoMachine Server Status via the Monitor (!M) from the system tray
Install NoMachine on the second computer
- Now go to your second computer, the computer that you want to connect from.
- Download and install NoMachine per the steps above.
Remotely connect to one computer from the other
Step 1: Start your first connection
- Make sure you are sitting at the computer you want to connect from and open NoMachine from the Programs/Applications menu. Click 'OK' to go past the Welcome panel in Fig. 9. The next panel is the 'Machines' panel (Fig. 11).
- From the 'Machines' panel you can start a new connection. Any connections you create appear in this panel, as well as NoMachine desktops which are advertized on your same local network.
- Click 'Add' to create a new connection.
- Assign a connection name for identification, in our example it's 'Testdrive'.
- Insert the public IP address and port information, which you noted down earlier, in the field ‘Host’ and 'Port' (Fig. 12).
- If you have a long list of connections and computers to choose from, you can filter out entries by inserting the IP address or user name in the 'Search machines' field.
Fig. 11 - Select 'Add' or to create your first connection or 'Click here to create a connection'
Fig. 12 - To add a connection you need to insert the IP address and port you wrote down earlier
- If you’re an advanced NoMachine user and need to connect with a private key, smartcard authentication or other authentication means, this can be changed in Configuration.
- Click 'Connect' or click the back arrow to go back to the Machines panel. Now go to Step 2.
Fig. 13 - If you are in the Machines panel, double-click on a computer in the list
Step 2: Log in to the remote computer
- You will be prompted to log in using the credentials for your account on the remote host.
- Click 'Login' and wait a few more seconds while NoMachine connects you to your remote desktop.
Fig. 14 - Insert the credentials of your remote account
Step 3: You are connected!
- Congratulations! Your remote desktop is now at your fingertips.
- You can now control your remote Windows, Mac or Linux desktop, open and edit files to work on documents, browse the internet, listen to your playlist, watch films, transfer some files and more.
Fig. 14 - You are in, enjoy!
