Linux Install -- Windows Client?

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Hypersphere
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:57 pm
Full Name: Rudy J. Richardson
Organization: University of Michigan

Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by Hypersphere »

I am new to webmo.

I installed the server software on a Linux machine (Linux Mint 19.3 64-bit Xfce, based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS). Everything seems to be working as expected on the Linux machine.

However, I am now trying to use webmo on a Windows 10 client machine that is on my local network, but the client machine cannot connect to the Linux server.

1. Do I need to upgrade to the Pro version of webmo to do this?

2. It also appears that the basic version does not display HOMO-LUMO orbitals. Do I need to upgrade to the Pro version to do this?

Thank you.

schmidt
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Full Name: JR Schmidt
Organization: WebMO, LLC

Re: Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by schmidt »

You should be able to access the WebMO install via your Windows machine UNLESS you are being blocked by your Linux machine's firewall. You may need to open the ports for HTTP or HTTPS to allow access. The details of how to do this will vary slightly based on your distro, but it should be easy to find this info online.

Note that orbital visualization is a feature of WebMO Pro/Enterprise.

polik
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Full Name: Will Polik
Organization: WebMO LLC

Re: Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by polik »

1. If a client cannot connect with the server, it as almost certainly a firewall issue on your Linux server, not a WebMO issue. You will need to open the firewall on your Linux server to allow http and/or https connections from the address range you want to serve. Once you have done so, verify that the Windows client can see the Linux server's home page, which typically says "Testing 123...".

2. Viewing molecular orbitals calculated by a computational engine is a WebMO Pro/Enterprise feature. That said, WebMO Basic version 20+ allows one to view extended Huckel molecular orbitals within the WebMO Editor, as does the WebMO App.

Hypersphere
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:57 pm
Full Name: Rudy J. Richardson
Organization: University of Michigan

Re: Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by Hypersphere »

Thank you! I opened the http and https service ports on my Linux server, and now I can connect to WebMO with the Windows machine on my local network.

Some additional follow-up questions:

1. What about remote access via the internet rather than over a local network?

2. What if the server and/or the client are connected to VPN? For example, I am currently working from my home office, but I sometimes need to connect to my university backbone to access remote servers and services using VPN.

Thank you again.

polik
Posts: 22
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Full Name: Will Polik
Organization: WebMO LLC

Re: Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by polik »

These networking questions should be posed to your local IT folks who are responsible for setting up your internal network(s) and external access to them.

So without knowing what your networking configuration is, here are some thoughts that might be useful:
  • Beyond the firewall on your WebMO server, most organizations have a firewall that prevents external access to internal machines. For "remote access via the internet," your network administrators would likely have have to allow external http/https queries reach your internally-located server.
  • If your server is on your internal network, you might be able to reach it from an external computer via a VPN connection, which makes your external client appear to be internal.
  • Complications could arise if your organization makes extensive use of "subnets," which can prevent one local network from seeing another local network.
Now that you have verified that your WebMO server responds to http/https requests that reach it, the best advice is to talk with your IT networking people about allowing broader access to your server.

Hypersphere
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 3:57 pm
Full Name: Rudy J. Richardson
Organization: University of Michigan

Re: Linux Install -- Windows Client?

Post by Hypersphere »

Thank you for your reply. I think I will be able to sort out the details regarding remote access, including VPN.

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