Remote x-windows

Summary
18 Mar 2002

• SSH works fine from Windows to Linux (Spello to Gubbio and Cyberspace)
• SCP (secure copy) also works fine, using WinSCP, from Windows to Linux
• I haven't got ssh to work from Linux to Windows
• I haven't got scp to work from Linux to Windows
• But I changed the register key to allow unencrypted passwords, so this may work next time
• X windows works through ssh, including copying files between systems
• Other remote windowing programs are also possible

X-windows

See x-windows for detailed instructions

See installation history.

There are commercial packages for Windows from Xi Graphics: at http://www.xig.com, and MetroLink: http://www.metrolink.com. The most promising solution is Virtual Networking, reviewed at http://www2.linuxjournal.com/print.php?sid=4840 in August 2001.

SSH

See separate page.

Serial console

• Provides direct access
• Useful for catching oopses
• Simplest method: a null modem cable and a laptop!
  
• Can be achieved via a dialup to an external modem
  
• See detailed instructions in Carla Schroeder's The Serial Console (Aug 04)
  

FreeNX

• NoMachine's NX server and client has been cloned and will be included in Knoppix 3.6 (June 2004)
• Documentation that explains the technology
• Fabian Franz says to grab a "Practical Linux" Knoppix. By booting that CD with
  
desktop=nx nx_server_host=<ip> , it'll just start a nxclient with a login window - like KDM
• The Kalyxo project is building and hosting Debian packages of FreeNX and NX/GPL
• Gian Filippo Pinzari, the lead developer: "The way NX works is by rewriting the X protocol, not by feeding bitmaps. It has to be faster than VNC in any condition."
• moznx -- a plugin for mozilla that acts as a client for NX Server
  

CygWin

"If you're happiest working in a UNIX-like command-line environment, and are already familiar with the "ssh" and "scp" commands, you may want to try Cygwin, (http://www.cygwin.com/). Cygwin is a pretty complete GNU based, (i.e. UNIX-like), environment for Windows.

In fact, if you are comfortable working in the X-Windows environment, in addition to the rich selection of GNU command-line programs, (including sshd, ssh, scp and sftp), Cygwin also supports ports of XFree86 and KDE 1.1.2. While this is no substitute for dual-booting with a good Linux distro, it is handy for doing quick X-Windows work on a UNIX server without needing to reboot your Windows machine, (or pay 100's of dollars for a commercial X-Server implementation for Windows)." Source

This suggests that the only way to get X-Windows to work from Windows is to use Cygwin!

WinSCP

See some alternatives. Here's more. WinSCP sounds promising:

WinSCP can do all basic operations with files, such as copying and moving (to and from a remote computer). It also allows you to rename files and folders, create new folders, and change properties of files and folders.

Well, I downloaded WinSCP and started it up -- it's a self-contained executable -- and it works!!! Amazing. I see Cyberspace on one side and good old Spello on the other. No need for further explanations it seems. Files can be moved at great speeds. As of 18 March 2002 my main networking neets have been met, if haltingly.

VNC -- see installation details.

Virtual Network Computing from AT&T, but licensed under GPL! There are versions for Linux, Windows, Mac, and WinCE -- and pretty much anything elss. You can run VNC from a floppy, or from your PDA, and thus access your system remotely. It's actually pretty amazing.

For one that is optimized for phonelines, see TightVNC. There are detailed instructions here.

For a flavor that should work well on a campus network, see Tridia VNC (reviewed by Joe "Zonker" Brockmeier in January 200w).

Crossover server

"CrossOver Server will provide the full realization of the Wine project -- a complete Windows operating environment with no Microsoft License fees. Targeted at the Internet Appliance and Thin Client markets, CrossOver Server will permit the distribution and deployment of Windows applications, with no Microsoft or Citrix licensing."

In other words, "CrossOver Server will host Windows applications for access on multiple devices." You can run Dreamweaver, say, on a server box and access it from multiple locations with thin clients. This would rock!

Now, the main promise for me of this project would be the ability to run Dreamweaver in Linux. Note also CrossOver Display:

CrossOver Display is designed to give mobile computers running Linux broad access to Windows applications.

3. Remote Desktop Protocol

You can use rdesktop, a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client, to access MS Windows-based applications from an MS Windows terminal server (source).

Remote printing

Note that you can also define printing via TCP/IP network; see http://sdb.suse.de/sdb/en/html/jsmeix_print-netzwerk.html. -- this may strictly speaking belong in the NFS page.