Xserver Setup

MAC OSX

OSX 10.5 through OS X 10.7

• XServer is already built into OSX

OSX 10.8 and newer

• Download XQuartz http://xquartz.macosforge.org/landing/
• Install XQuartz and be sure to restart the computer after the installation is done.

Connecting

• Open a terminal client and type in

ssh -X [yournetid]@[destination.server].edu

• • The -X after "ssh" tells the computer to connect using xserver
  • yournetid - is your university netid
  • destination.server.edu - the server you would like to connect too (example: biocluster.igb.illinois.edu)

Windows with MobaXterm

• MobaXTerm includes an xserver. This is the easiest method on a windows computer
• Download and install MobaXterm at https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/

Windows with PuTTY

• For users who prefer PuTTY. You will need to setup the program XMing

Download the following files

• Xming-6-9-0-31-setup.exe
• Putty-0.60-installer.exe
• putty.reg (Right Click to Save)
• Xserver.xlaunch (Right Click to Save)

Installing Xming

• Run "Xming-6-9-0-31-setup.exe" installer. Follow the screenshots below.
• Click Next

• Click Next

• Click Next

• Click Next

• Uncheck everything except for "Associate XLaunch.exe with the .xlaunch file extension"

• Click Install

• Uncheck "Launch Xming". Click finish

Installing PuTTy

• Run "putty-0.60-installer.exe" installer. Follow the screenshots below.
• Click Next

File:Putty install1.jpg

• Click Next

File:Putty install2.jpg

• Click Next

File:Putty install3.jpg

• Click Next

File:Putty install4.jpg

• Click Install

File:Putty install5.jpg

• Click Finish

File:Putty install6.jpg

• Run "putty.reg". At the warning that pops up click Yes. It will be similar to the following screenshot

File:Putty.reg.jpg

Connecting to X Server

• Run "xserver.xlaunch". This is the Xming profile that is needed to connect properly use Xming with a server
• Run PuTTY by going to Start->Programs->PuTTY->PuTTY
• Type in the hostname you are connecting to then click Open.
• Login with the username/password for this host.
• You are now connected. You should be able to run any xserver capable program.

Testing

• A good test is to run the program "xterm". Most hosts will have this installed. It will open up a graphical terminal box.

[username@hostname ~]$ xterm