Windows

Minimum System Requirements

1. At least 3GB free space for neurodesktop base image
2. Docker requirements. Details found under https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/
3. If installing docker using WSL, minimum 20GB space recommended for WSL with Ubuntu

Quickstart

1. Install Docker or Podman

Install Docker from here: https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/

Alternatively, Neurodesk also works with Podman, follow the Podman installation instructions provided at https://podman.io/docs/installation.

2. Run Neurodesktop

Use one of the following options to run Neurodesktop:

Option 1 (Recommended): Neurodesk-App

Instructions for installing and using the app: https://www.neurodesk.org/docs/getting-started/neurodesktop/neurodeskapp/

Option 2 (Advanced): Using Terminal

1. Open a terminal (e.g. Powershell), and type the following command to automatically download the neurodesktop container and run it

1.a) with a persistent home directory:

docker volume create neurodesk-home

docker run --shm-size=1gb -it --privileged --user=root --name neurodesktop -v C:/neurodesktop-storage:/neurodesktop-storage --mount source=neurodesk-home,target=/home/jovyan -p 8888:8888 -e NEURODESKTOP_VERSION=2024-03-27 vnmd/neurodesktop:2024-03-27

1.b) without a persistent home directory:

docker run --shm-size=1gb -it --privileged --user=root --name neurodesktop -v C:/neurodesktop-storage:/neurodesktop-storage -p 8888:8888 -e NEURODESKTOP_VERSION=2024-03-27 vnmd/neurodesktop:2024-03-27

2. Once neurodesktop is downloaded, leave the terminal open and check which server neurodesktop running on (Avoid pressing CTRL+C). ]

3. To access neurodesktop, open your web browser and type in one of the URLs provided in your terminal (e.g. http://127.0.0.1:8888/lab?token=your_unique_token).

4. Press on “Desktop Auto-Resolution” under “ALL CONNECTIONS”

5. If it is the first time you use Neurodesktop, wait until the desktop appears (it may take a few seconds). Otherwise, it should appear instantaneously.

6. Neurodesk is ready to use! See the tutorials page for advice on how to use Neurodesk.

7. For an optimal experience, switch your browser to full-screen mode by following the instructions for your browser here: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/open-chrome-edge-or-firefox-browser-in-full-screen-mode

Deleting neurodesktop:

When done processing your data it is important to stop and remove the container - otherwise the next start or container update will give an error ("… The container name “/neurodesktop” is already in use…")

1. Click on the terminal from which you ran neurodesktop

2. Press control-C

3. Type:

docker stop neurodesktop

4. Type:

docker rm neurodesktop

Using an Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Client

Startup Neurodesktop using the following command:

docker run \
--shm-size=1gb -it --privileged --user=root --name neurodesktop \
-v C:/neurodesktop-storage:/neurodesktop-storage \
-p 3390:3389 -p 8888:8888 \
-e NEURODESKTOP_VERSION=2024-03-27 vnmd/neurodesktop:2024-03-27

Open Windows Remote Desktop Connection and connect to Computer localhost:3390 as shown below.

Resolution and multi-monitor settings can be set from the Display tab.

Once ready, click Connect. This will take you to the following prompt

Use the following details to login

Session

Xorg

username

user

password

password

Using VNC

To enable VNC and disable RDP, startup Neurodesktop using the following command:

docker run --shm-size=1gb -it --privileged --user=root --name neurodesktop -v C:/neurodesktop-storage:/neurodesktop-storage -p 8888:8888 -e NEURODESKTOP_VERSION=2024-03-27 vnmd/neurodesktop:2024-03-27 --vnc 

Using a Virtual Network Computing (VNC) Client

Startup Neurodesktop using the following command:

docker run --shm-size=1gb -it --privileged --user=root --name neurodesktop -v C:/neurodesktop-storage:/neurodesktop-storage -p 5901:5901 -p 8888:8888 -e NEURODESKTOP_VERSION=2024-03-27 vnmd/neurodesktop:2024-03-27 --vnc 

Download the Tiger VNC client (vncviewer64-1.12.0.exe) from https://sourceforge.net/projects/tigervnc/files/stable/1.12.0/

Run the VNC Client and connect to localhost::5901

Enter password and click Ok.