[ILUG] X Windows Query

[Michael Watterson]

paul at clubi.ie wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Apr 2008, Jason Corcoran wrote:
>
>> It should be a case of (from you client machine) ensuring that the 
>> server machine has the right to start X apps so run xhost + <ip>
>
>> Next ssh into the server, export DISPLAY=<clientIp>:0.0 and then 
>> start up your app that you are interested in.
>
> This should never be needed with SSH forwarding of X. Indeed, your 
> instructions have no need of SSH - you would have been better 
> suggesting the reader use 'rlogin' as it would at least be clear just 
> how insecure this is.
>
>> As mentioned you could also use ssh +x
>
> Change "could" to "should".
>
> regards,
I found using X via network that if the connection lost or you 
accidently killed the X-Server on the client all the server applications 
would close losing any unsaved data. With VNC the  network  traffic is 
less and  closing VNC or losing connection has no  effect on  Server 
Applications.  However  to  run  X-Applications SEAMLESSLY on  Windows  
Desktop (each  remote application is  in its own Windows Window) or on 
an  X-Desktop, the VNC has disadvantage it is not integrated. The entire 
remote desktop is one window.

It to an extent depend what you want to do. VNC on a very wide range of 
gadgets and OSes on WiFi or Internet is maybe better. On a reliable 
cabled 100M or 1G Switch LAN where seamless use is needed then X is 
better (your client need not be Linux running an X Server, but can be 
Windows, OS X, OS 9, Solaris etc... even some gadgets). Some 
non-Linux/Unix versions of X Server can't run applications per window on 
the native desktop but create a separate desktop in a Window for the 
Remote PC, in this case VNC is better.

Windows X support does not seem to have improved since 1999 when I first 
looked at it. The "free" and/or "open Source" X Servers tend to be poor 
and implement a separate desktop. The only "seamless" ones seem to be 
quite expensive commercial.

Because Windows is expect to provide a lot of GUI services to a Program, 
and generic X application is really a graphics terminal window assuming 
nothing about the desktop, it is in theory much easier to have seamless 
X applications (local on Cygwin or MS Services for UNIX, or on a remote 
server) on Program Manager or Explorer than have Windows Applications 
run at all seamlessly in Linux (via Wine) or Windows with Program 
Manager / Explorer replaced by an X-Window Manager and X -Server. (yes 
it *IS* possible to switch on  the  Posix   subsystem, install  MS  UNIX 
Services  For  Windows and  make  Shell= favorite X-Manager instead of 
Explorer. You need a 3rd party X-Server. MS UNIX serivices doesn't have 
one and Cygwin really needs 3rd party too. If you do this, you may find 
that only OS2 console programs work properly! Yep they STILL have OS2 
native console support in NT).

VNC...


-- 
Mike