X and multiple computers?

[stingray72]

If I wanted to pull up the desktop on another computer in my home network, how would I do that? I know about VNC but have not downloaded or installed. Can't X do this?

I read the man page on X:

I tried something to this nature

xterm -display xx.xx.xx.xx:0.0, am I on the right track?

Computer connecting from has RH 6.2
Computer connecting to had MD 7.2

any ideas? Thanks - jlg

[bdg1983]

I use Xnest from Linux to Linux. Xnest is not always installed by default.

Xnest :1 -query 192.168.1.5 # ip to connect to

Ensure the line 'any host can get a login window' (or something similar) in Xaccess is uncommented.

[stingray72]

Ok I tried that, I got this error.

Fatal server error:
Unable to open display "".

Anyone got suggestions?

Thanks
JLG

[bdg1983]

You tried the command in a Xterm?

Xnest :1 -query xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Try changing the :1 to :2

And you checked Xaccess?

[bdg1983]

Here's the document I used.

Description:

Can I get a graphical login to a remote computer?

Solution:

Remote X-sessions are possible, but recommended only for fast connections with plenty of bandwidth, as a graphical session requires alot of communication.

NOTE: To start additional X-session you will need to be logged in as the root user.

In short, a remote session requires the cooperation of both computers. The X access of the computer you wish to access must be modified to include any client that you want to connect from, and you must start a new X-session on your local computer.

To allow a graphical connection to a remote linux box, the computer you wish to connect to must allow graphical connections from your system. This is done by editing the Xaccess file in /etc/X11/kdm/ to allow the client computer(s) -- None is the default for Caldera Openlinux, but uncommenting the line

#*#any host can get a login window

allows all clients to connect, which may be a security risk, so you may want to specify clients. For this faq, we will just uncomment this line (it is the first non-comment commented line). Once this change is made, you will need to re-start the X-server. You can use the login manager, or just use a terminal to go to runlevel 3 then back to 5:

init 3
init 5

Second, the client will execute this command:
X :1 -query 192.168.1.5

The numbers will be different for your system; the ":1" is the next X-session - If you already have 2 X-sessions, use :2, etc. The ip, obviously is the system you want to connect to - this can be a fully qualified domain name if it is known by your system. This session will be on the next virtual terminal (typically F9) and will be the active one until you switch back.

To start a new X-session in a window of your current X-session (nested), use the Xnest command in place of X:

Xnest :1 -query 192.168.1.5

NOTES:

- To run this in the background, you just add the ampersand [&], and to disconnect it from a terminal, just [ctrl]-[d] out of the terminal window once it is in the background. If you forgot to send the process to the background, type [ctrl]-[z], then 'bg' [enter], then [ctrl]-[d] out.

- You can connect to any computer which can run an X-session and which uses standard X protocols, such as SCO unixware. They may require changes to X access as well, but configuring them is beyond the scope of this faq. Some systems default to allow all clients to connect, in which case you may not need to change anything.

- Firewalls will disrupt this setup. You will need to find out what ports are being used and how to get through before this will work for those systems.