2.7.1. Client–server setup

  1. Pick a unique tunnel port (e.g. 111XX) to avoid colliding with other users.

  2. Ensure that the $DISPATCH env var points to the top of your DISPATCH hierarchy.

  3. Ensure $DISPATCH/utilities/scripts is in your $PATH so the helper scripts PVserver is visible (the script sets PV_PLUGIN_PATH so ParaView can auto-load dispatch_reader_plugin.py and supports various diagnostic settings that may be used to trace problems).

  4. Start the SSH tunnel from your laptop:

    ssh server -L 11111:localhost:111XX PVserver --server-port=111XX

    Replace 111XX with the port from step 1. The very first launch can take longer; if ParaView times out simply close it and retry the connection.

  5. Create a ParaView connection – in File ‣ Connect… add an entry targeting localhost:11111. While editing the entry, press Configure, choose Command, paste the SSH command from step 4, and increase the wait timeout beyond the default 5 s so ParaView patiently waits for pvserver to start.

  6. Load the DISPATCH plugin – open Tools ‣ Manage Plugins…, select dispatch_reader_plugin.py, click Load Selected, expand the entry, and tick Autoload. If the plugin is missing, use Load New… and browse to $DISPATCH/utilities/python/pv/plugin/dispatch_reader_plugin.py.

Notes

  • Always reference PVserver in the SSH tunnel command so the environment is consistent

  • The tunnel maps your chosen server port (111XX) to ParaView’s standard local port 11111.

  • If the connection is refused, log onto the server and verify whether pvserver is running and which ports it listens on; if an orphan one of yours, kill it. If someone else is using 111XX, change port number.

  • Laptops with multiple GPUs often benefit from telling ParaView to prefer the high-performance GPU.