RDS on Linux

The following instructions will show you how to connect (mount) your Linux computer to the RDS. There may be some differences between Linux desktop environments and instructions for some of the most common one's have been provided here.

You must be connected to either the College network or otherwise following the advice on accessing services remotely before you can connect to the RDS.

Required Packages

Depending on how you wish to connect to the RDS (e.g. command-line or via desktop file browser) you might find it necessary to install additional packages before you are able to use your connection method.

Command-line mount.cifs

These days the packages to mount SMB exports using mount.cifs aren't installed by default so they may need to be installed before the RDS can be mounted; as an example, if you see the "no route to host" error message after running a mount.cifs command, it most like means the required packages aren't installed.

On Ubuntu and Mint you can install support for mount.cifs by running:

sudo apt-get install cifs-utils

Gnome Files (Nautilus)

Gnome Files relies on the Gnome Virtual File System (GVFS) to connect to SMB end points such as the RDS. On Ubuntu and Mint you can provide support for this by making sure the gvfs-backend package is installed, while on RHEL-based operating systems you can install the gvfs-smb package.

Examples

Gnome (Ubuntu 22.04)

  • Go to the RDS Directory Paths page and identify the location that you wish to connect your Linux computer to, making a note of the RDS Directory Path (macOS and Linux)
  • Open the file manager (Files) by clicking on the icon
  • Click + Other Locations on the side pane
  • Enter the RDS Directory Path (macOS and Linux) in the Connect to Server box in this format e.g. smb://rds.imperial.ac.uk/rds/project/<project-name>/
  • Select Registered User
  • Enter your College Username
  • Enter IC in Domain
  • Enter your College Password
  • Click Connect

XFCE (Linux Mint 21)

  • Go to the RDS Directory Paths page and identify the location that you wish to connect your Linux computer to, making a note of the RDS Directory Path (macOS and Linux)
  • Open the file manager (Thunar) by clicking on the icon
  • Select Go and then Open Location.
  • The location bar on the file manager should now be highlighted. Enter the RDS Directory Path (macOS and Linux) in the (now highlighted) location bar in this format e.g. smb://rds.imperial.ac.uk/rds/project/<project-name>/
  • Select Registered User
  • Enter your College Username
  • Enter IC in Domain
  • Enter your College Password
  • Click Connect