remote X display

[Cordula's Web]

> I have been looking all over for a concise howto for remote X on FreeBSD.  I
> see some that involve changing config files in the xdm directory, others use
> xhost, and another uses xfig, which doesn't exist under FreeBSD AFAICT.

Use ssh's -X flag:

somehost> ssh -X user at remotemachine
remotemachine> echo $DISPLAY
somehost.example.com:10.0
remotemachine> xclock &

Don't forget to enable X forwarding in /etc/ssh/sshd_config:
X11Forwarding yes

> All I want to do is use a laptop in a local network to be an X client
> connected to a more powerful desktop machine.  I'm not worried about
> security.
> 
> Is xhosts and the DISPLAY variable all I need?  Or do I need to go through
> all of the xdm configuration hoops?

ssh X11 forwarding is much more secure than DISPLAY/xhosts/xdm etc...,
because:
  1. Your X11 server doesn't have to listen to port 6000
     (You don't have to add '-listen_tcp' to startx command)
  2. The communication between server and client is encrypted

Of course, YMMV.

> NOTE: Please CC me, as I am not currently subscribed.  Thanks.
> 
> jm
> -- 
> My other computer is your windows box.

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Cordula's Web. http://www.cordula.ws/