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ID: DT10O00154
Version: NoMachine 6
Added on: 2017-11-15
Last Update: 2020-12-17
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Quick Guide to the NoMachine GUI (v.6)

Table of Contents
Introduction
1. What is the NoMachine GUI?
The Player preferences GUI
2. How to access the NoMachine 'Player preferences'
2.1. Input preferences
2.2. Appearance preferences
2.3. Transfer preferences
2.4. Folder preferences
2.5. Privacy preferences
The Server preferences GUI
3. How to access the 'Server preferences'
3.1. Network services
3.2. Security preferences
3.3. Forwarded devices
3.4. Transfer preferences
3.5. System performance
3.6. Update preferences

Introduction
1. What is the NoMachine GUI?

This guide is an introduction to the NoMachine GUI, present in NoMachine software version 4 or higher. It is intended to illustrate the settings that can be configured in order to tune access from and to the remote computer on which it is installed.

There are essentially two user interfaces.

I The Player Interface ("client side"). This is available when installing any of the NoMachine packages including Enterprise Client.
II The Server Interface ("server side") which manages the services of the remote host. This is available when installing any of the NoMachine packages (free version and 'Server' products), but not the Enterprise Client.

For the sake of clarity, this guide will look at what preferences can be configured of both the client and server side interfaces. For guidance on installation and how to start a session to the remote computer, please consult the Tutorials & Installation & Guides available in the Support Section of the website: https://www.nomachine.com. There is also a Guide to the Server side GUI for more advanced users which provides in-depth details on its configuration: https://www.nomachine.com/DT10O00155

The Player preferences GUI
2. How to access the NoMachine 'Player preferences'

The NoMachine Player not only provides the connection interface with which users initiate the connection to the remote computer (host) that they want to access, it also allows you to:

I configure the language to be used and appearance of the GUI and connection menu
II set the paths to be used for program files, transferred files and Player settings in general
III organize Player log files and local privacy configuration.

The Player GUI is accessible either from the system's Programs/Applications menu, or via any connection shortcut that you have on your desktop. By opening up the GUI, select 'Settings'.

Fig. 1 - 'Settings' is where you go to configure the Player preferences

2.1. Input preferences

This panel lets you fine-tune keyboard input, mouse and pointer activity, as well as menu appearance to your own requirements.

Show remote cursor pointer
Check to 'Show the mouse cursor' of the remote computer when connecting via a shadowing session, i.e., if you are sharing the desktop session of another user and both of you are connected, the connecting user will see the owner's cursor as well as their own. Disabled by default.

Emulate middle mouse button
Users can enable 'Emulate middle mouse button' to use left + right click in place of middle-button on mouse during the remote session.

Emulate right mouse button
Users connecting from Mac can enable 'Emulate right mouse button' to use Ctrl + mouse click in place of right-button on mouse during the remote session.

Fig. 2 - Input preferences

Grab the keyboard input
Enable to send local key presses to the remote window, such as Alt-Tab and PrintScreen. Sending Alt-Tab key events will switch between different remote windows rather than switching among the local windows open locally.

Grab the mouse input
Enable to keep the pointer/mouse always within the NoMachine remote window.

Menu

Use hot-key menu access
Check to 'use hot-key menu access and personalize the keys to be used by setting shortcut preferences in 'Change shortcuts'. Set to Ctrl-Atl-0 (zero) by default.

Change shortcuts
Set the shortcuts to be used within the NoMachine session that will allow you to terminate the session, toggle the fullscreen, minimize, show the recording bar, and others.

Fig. 3 - Configure your own keyboard shortcuts that NoMachine should intercept during the session

Use page peel for menu access
Disable or enable 'Page-peel' and choose a corner that won't interfere with your browser or file commands (top right, bottom right, bottom left, or top left). Hovering over the corner to display a page curl effect will quickly pull up the Menu when clicked.

Use action items in the page-peel
Show icons 'Minimize', 'Fit-to-window' and 'Fullscreen' in the page-peel space.

Display the menu panel covering all screen
Choose how the menu should appear: covering all available window space or as an overlay.

2.2. Appearance preferences

Fig. 4 - Preferences > Appearance

Style
For a native look and feel, select Sunshine. The NoMachine GUI will then integrate as a native app on your operating system. For a black GUI, select 'Moonlight'.

Language
Select the preferred language to be used in the GUI and dialogs. Note: some dialogs such as eventual error messages may be shown in the language of the Operating System.

Font
Select the preferred font. 'Fixed' refers to the font used by the Player should it have to show log excerpts. Default refers to the character style adopted within the GUI.

2.3. Transfer preferences

This is where you set whether other users are allowed to send you files from a remote computer, plus any limits on size of the files that you can receive.

Fig. 5 - Preferences > Transfers

2.4. Folder preferences

Configure the paths for NoMachine program files and connection settings. Indicate where you would like NoMachine to store transferred files and recordings.

Fig. 6 - Specify paths for program files and connection settings, transferred files and recordings

2.5. Privacy preferences

Configure whether NoMachine should store log files, screenshots and whether other users (on LAN) should be shown in the connection GUI upon opening. By default, network browsing box is not checked.

Don't delete log files on exit - Select this to keep log files when closing the session.

Don't save connection screenshots - When disconnecting, NoMachine will save an image of your remote desktop and show it in the connection dialog when you next connect. Check the box to not show a screenshot of the session.

Don't show other computers on the network - Select this option to not see other computers connected on the LAN which have NoMachine installed.

Fig. 7 - Privacy preferences

The Server preferences GUI
3. How to access the 'Connection preferences'

'Server preferences' is where you go to configure the settings governing how the computer will be accessed from remote. Remember that this interface is only available when installing any of the NoMachine 'server' software packages. It is not available if you have installed Enterprise Client.

Once installed and running on the computer you want to access, you can reach the 'Server preferences' via the "!M" icon in the system tray of your computer by clicking 'Show the service status'. Alternatively you can access the Server Preferences via the 'Server preferences' link, visible at the bottom of the panel in all the images above.

If you have installed a 'server' product, the label 'Server preferences' will be visible instead.

For advanced users: See the following guide for more technical details, hints and troubleshooting regarding the various options available in the 'Server preferences' GUI, https://www.nomachine.com/DT10O00155

Fig. 8 - Click 'Show the service status' to access 'Server preferences'

3.1. Network services

Start automatic services at start up
If checked (enabled by default), the services present in the list will automatically start at every computer boot.

Advertize this computer on the network
Enabled by default. Enable in order for the computer to show up in other users' connection lists when on LAN. Other users will see this computer provided they have not checked the box 'Don't show other computers on the network' (fig. 7). Disabling will stop the broadcast of computer's availability on LAN.

Fig. 9 - Show the service status > Server preferences

3.2. Security preferences

This area of 'Server preferences' allows you to set how you (and other users) can interact with your remote desktop.

Require permission to let remote users connect
Enabled by default. If someone is trying to connect to your desktop, a pop up message asking for your permission appears. If the computer is unattended, this option should be turned off.

Require permission to let remote users interact with the desktop
Disabled by default. Checking the box means that users will connect in view only mode. Interaction can be enabled at a later time by the owner.

Hide the NoMachine (!M) icon in the system tray
Disabled by default. Checking the box stops the !M icon from being displayed. Notifications will still be shown.

Use sound notifications when there is an event
If a user connects or requests to connect to the desktop, or a user disconnects, a sound will be emitted.

Blank the physical screen when somebody connects
Check the box to enable screen blanking and block mouse and keyboard input. Useful for unattended remote computers to p event others from entering data or viewing the monitor while you are remotely accessing it.

Lock the physical screen on disconnect
This option can be used in conjuction with the screen blanking: even when the last user didn't lock the screen before disconnecting by NoMachine, as soon as the screen is unblanked the system lock screen will be activated automatically to keep the remote desktop protected even if the computer is running unattended.

Fig. 10 - Security preferences

3.3. Forwarded devices

Choose to allow specific devices (printers, scanners, disks and more) to be shared to the connecting client, including audio and microphone, useful when VOIP application is being used.

Fig. 11 - Enable which devices you want to make available on the remote desktop

3.4. Transfer preferences

Configure whether connecting clients are allowed to upload and download files from the computer, set any size limitations and specify the location where files must be saved. Connecting client must have the 'Allow users to send you a file' box checked (see fig. 5).

Fig. 12 - Transfer preferences

3.5. System performance

In the majority of cases, it won't be necessary to interfere with these settings since NoMachine will carry out the necessary checks and optimizations to give the best possible performance. The encoding method depends also on the decoding capabilities of the client. If the client supports H.264 decoding (by means of the hardware or by codec libraries), then H.264 will be chosen, otherwise VP8 encoding is always used. MJPEG won't be used unless it is explicitly requested.

Use a specific display encoding
Configure a specific type of encoding (server side), choosing from H.264, VP8 and MJPEG.

There are some cases where MJPEG might be more suitable such as when accessing a less powerful computer (legacy PC or computer with reduced CPU and RAM specifications). Selecting MJPEG will consume more bandwidth.

Request a specific frame rate
Select the frames-per-second that you prefer. Higher is recommended for activity such as game-playing.

Use acceleration for display processing
Applicable to Windows only with support for DirectX (OpenGL on Mac and Linux coming soon). If enabled the remote Windows server/host being accessed will capture the screen content using DirectX.

Fig. 13 - System performance

3.6. Update preferences

Here you will find information about the product installed and the license validity (if applicable). Additionally, enable automatic software updates. Leave unchecked if you prefer to do it manually. Updates are set by default to check NoMachine respositories every 2 days. You can override this by clicking 'Check now'.

Fig. 14 - Update preferences