Forward X11 applications to a Windows client

Some graphical applications running on a managed Linux clients work well when forwarded to a X11 server on a remote PC. The following example describes the use case to connect from a personal Windows PC to a remote managed Linux PC at ETH and use such an application on it.

Install an X11 server on Windows

Download and install VcXsrv on your personal Windows PC

Connect to the ETH network

Make sure you're connected to the ETH network by either:

• WLAN

• or VPN

Start the X11 server

• From your start menu, start the newly installed application XLaunch.

• Select display settings: Keep the proposed settings and klick the button Next

• Select how to start clients: Select Start a program and klick the button Next

• Specify the program to start:

  • Select Start program on remote computer

  • In the field Remote program, enter xterm

  • Leave the field Password empty

  • Fill the name of the Linux PC you want to connect to into Connect to computer

  • Fill your ETH username into the field Login as user

  • Klick the button Next

• Extra settings: Keep the proposed settings and klick the button Next

• Configuration complete: Optionally save your configuration and klick the button Finish

• Input requested?: You're now asked for your ETH password. Enter it and click on the button OK

A window forwarding the output of xterm opens on your Windows PC.

Run a graphical application

• Start the graphical application you'd like to use from the commandline in the xtermwindow, for example

  xclock