Question

Gnome Desktop on a Cygwin/X server

Asked by: phil8258

Hi,
I have a Sabayon (baded on Gentoo) machine running the Gnome Desktop Environment.
I would like to be able to use the linux gnome environment from my windows desktop.

I have the Cygwin XWin server set up on my windows machine. Seems to work ok.
When it starts it brings up a terminal, and "ssh -Y -l username remote_hostname_or_ip_address" lets me log into the linux machine.

The problem i'm having is firstly I can not get to the gnome desktop environment from the terminal. I've tried all kinds of export DISPLAY=, :0, :0.0, xhost + etc.
If I try to only launch a program like firefox &, then I always get an unable to open display problem.

My other question is, once I've got past the above problem, can I set up Cygwin/X Server to just connect automatically without having to go through the whole ssh -Y -l username  and export DISPLAY etc. Is there a free little tool out there that will let you select a machine IP address, set the display and just launch everything as it should be into the full blown Gnome desktop (with login screen).

Cheers,

Phil.

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Asked On
2009-01-10 at 12:39:48ID24041356
Topics

CYGWIN

,

X-Windows Window Manager

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-01-12 at 08:52:03ID: 23354865

1) Install Xming
2) Install putty
3) Make sure putty and ssh server forwards X11 by configuration
4) Launch Xming (Not Xlaunch - Xming icon)
5) run putty to connect.

Unlike Cygwin Xming is able to forward GLX/OpenGL, putty is more visual experience

And finaly:

6) xdpyinfo - test if X11 is well connected via tunnel
7) startgnome starts full gnome session.

Though slow etc, better of with launching single apps from putty while Xming running.


 

by: phil8258Posted on 2009-01-12 at 14:37:36ID: 23358241

Hi, thanks for this info. Looks really good.

I get as far as point 6, then I get the message  xdpyinfo:  unable to open display "".

In the X11 section of PuTTY, I've got the box checked for enable X11 forwarding,
In the X display location I've got my XP machine IP address (tried both :0 and :0.0 on the end). Also tried both MIT magic cookie and XDM authentication.

Is the problem likely to lie with my putty configuration, or with the Linux machine - any idea how to check the linux machine is broadcasting?

Cheers,

Phil.

 

by: gheistPosted on 2009-01-13 at 00:29:51ID: 23360816

Problem is in /etc/ssh/sshd_config on your server.
You have to enable X11Forwarding there too, and do not mess with DISPLAY - you do not have to enter machine's address - ssh is able to do all on its own.

 

by: phil8258Posted on 2009-01-13 at 14:59:07ID: 31533179

Wonderful, thanks!! :O)

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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