Xserver Setup

What is a Xserver

• Xserver is a method of accessing graphical applications on a remote Linux Machine from your local computer.
• This requires an Xserver program to be installed locally on your computer.

Mac OS X

• Download XQuartz at http://xquartz.macosforge.org/landing/
• Install XQuartz and be sure to restart the computer after the installation is done.
• Open XQuartz by going to Go->Utilities->XQuartz

• Type in the following to connect to a remote server

ssh -X username@destination.server.edu

• The -X after "ssh" tells the computer to connect using Xserver
• username - is your username
• destination.server.edu - the server you would like to connect too (example: biologin.igb.illinois.edu)

Windows with MobaXterm

• MobaXTerm includes an xserver. This is the easiest method on a windows computer
• Download and install MobaXterm from https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/
• Open MobaXterm and select Start local terminal

• Type in the following to connect to a remote server

ssh -X username@destination.server.edu

• The -X after "ssh" tells the computer to connect using Xserver
• username - is your username
• destination.server.edu - the server you would like to connect too (example: biologin.igb.illinois.edu)

Linux

• Linux has a Xserver built in.
• Open a terminal window
• Type in the following to connect to a remote server

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: biologin.igb.illinois.edu)

Testing

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

[username@hostname ~]$ xterm

References

• http://xquartz.macosforge.org/landing/
• https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System