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other:x_conf [2022/08/04 09:17] jypeter created |
other:x_conf [2022/08/08 13:05] jypeter [Installing VcXsrv] |
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An //X server// is not a server for distributing your perfect models output! | An //X server// is not a server for distributing your perfect models output! | ||
- | An //X server// is basically a program running on your local computer that understands the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System_core_protocol|X Windows System protocol]] used by the **remote Linux servers** to generate graphics, and that can //render// (i.e. display) the graphics on your **local computer**. | + | An //X server// is basically a program running on your local computer that understands the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System_core_protocol|X Windows System protocol]] used by **remote Linux servers** to generate graphics, and that can //render// (i.e. display) the graphics generated remotely on your **local computer**. |
===== Using an X server on Linux ===== | ===== Using an X server on Linux ===== | ||
- | Nothing to do! Linux computers come pre-configured with a running X server (because they need it for displaying local graphics) | + | Linux computers come pre-configured with a running X server (because they need it for displaying local graphics) that will display the graphics generated locally and on remote Linux servers. **You don't need to do anything special!** |
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There are several options available | There are several options available | ||
+ | ==== Installing VcXsrv ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <note tip>''VcXsrv'' is **pre-installed on the LSCE Windows computers**! | ||
+ | |||
+ | * You may want to check if a more recent version is available | ||
+ | * You surely want to follow the configuration steps, in order to get the best possible settings to work with PuTTY! | ||
+ | </note> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Type: <wrap em>free</wrap> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Download the installer from [[https://sourceforge.net/projects/vcxsrv/|VcXrsv]] and install ''VcXsrv''. | ||
+ | |||
+ | === VcXsrv Configuration === | ||
+ | |||
+ | You need to configure ''VcXsrv'' to work in //multiple windows// mode. The following steps will show you how to create a shortcut on your desktop to start VcXsrv in this appropriate mode | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Start the //configuration tool//: ''Start'' => ''VcXsrv'' => ''Xlaunch'' | ||
+ | * Select ''Multiple windows'', then ''Next'' | ||
+ | * Select ''Start no client'', then ''Next'' | ||
+ | * Keep the default ''Clipboard'' settings, uncheck ''Native opengl'', then ''Next'' | ||
+ | * You can check the [[other:x_conf#opengl_related_settings|OpenGL discussion section]] if you have time... | ||
+ | * Click on ''Save configuration'' and save an ''X_Server.xlaunch'' configuration file on your Desktop, then ''Terminate''.\\ You should now have a new ''X_Server'' icon/shortcut on your Desktop | ||
+ | * Start the server by double-clicking on the new ''X_Server'' icon | ||
+ | * It will seem that nothing happens, but an ''X'' icon will appear in the right side of the taskbar (you may have to look for it in the //Display hidden icons// pull-up menu). Your computer is now ready to display remote graphics!\\ {{ :other:vcxsrv_x.png?direct |}} | ||
+ | * The X server will stop when you close your Windows session or restart the computer. Do not forget to click on the ''X_Server'' icon on your desktop if you know that you will need an X server later | ||
+ | * FIXME Document how to automatically start the X server... | ||
+ | * Note: you can right-click on the ''X'' icon and select ''Exit...'' if you need to quit the X server | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Installing x410 ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <WRAP center round tip 60%> | ||
+ | [[https://token2shell.com/x410/|x410]] is a **low cost** commercial //X server// that can be directly installed from the [[https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NLP712ZMN9Q|Microsoft store]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | This is an //X server//, and you will get the same functionalities as what is already provided for free by [[other:x_conf#installing_vcxsrv|VcXsrv]], **but**: | ||
+ | * Once installed, ''x410'' will be automatically updated by the Microsoft Store application | ||
+ | * If you move to another computer, you can install ''x410'' again by just [[other:win10config#connecting_to_the_microsoft_store|Connecting the MS Store to your account]] on the new computer. No need to buy it again | ||
+ | * There seem to be more (useful) updates than for ''VcXsrv'' | ||
+ | * The interface is more modern, with more options, and there is a lot of useful information on the web site | ||
+ | * The ''x410'' name is easier to remember! :-D | ||
+ | </WRAP> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | Type: <wrap em>commercial</wrap> | ||
+ | |||
+ | Buy and install ''x410'' from the [[https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9NLP712ZMN9Q|Microsoft store]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | === x410 configuration === | ||
+ | |||
+ | * Start ''x410'': ''Start'' => ''X410'' | ||
+ | * It will seem that nothing happens, but an ''X'' icon will appear in the right side of the taskbar (you may have to look for it in the //Display hidden icons// pull-up menu). Your computer is now __almost__ ready to display remote graphics!\\ {{ :other:x410_x.png?direct |}} | ||
+ | * Right-click on the ''X'' icon to open the **X410 settings** | ||
+ | * Select ''Auto copy to Windows after selection''\\ {{ :other:x410_settings.png?direct |}} | ||
+ | * It's possible to **automatically start ''x410''**! Otherwise, it will stop when you close your Windows session or restart the computer, and you will have to restart it by hand (''Start'' => ''X410'') if you know that you will need an X server later | ||
+ | * Open the **Windows Task Manager** (Right-click on ''Start'' and select ''Task Manager'') | ||
+ | * Go to the ''Startup'' panel (if there are no panels, select ''More details'') | ||
+ | * Right-click on ''X140'' and select ''Enabled'' | ||
+ | * Note: if you need to quit the //X server//, you can right-click on the ''X'' icon, and then click on the //Display// number at the lower left (usually ''0'') and select ''Shut down'' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | **Starting, configuring and exiting X410**: you can start X410 by clicking on it in the Windows Start Menu, or choose to [[https://token2shell.com/howto/x410/automatically-start-x410-on-login/|Automatically Start X410 on Login]] | ||
+ | * Note: nothing actually happens when you start X410, as it is just waiting to display graphics! You will just get a new **X** icon in the //hidden// icons of the taskbar. | ||
+ | * You can configure (and exit) X410 by right clicking on its **X** icon | ||
===== Using an X server on an Apple computer ===== | ===== Using an X server on an Apple computer ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Configuration on the remote machine ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== If you are connecting with ssh ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Nothing special to do! | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== If you are using WSL ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | If you have installed [[other:win10wsl|WSL+Ubuntu]] on your local machine, and you need your X server to display graphics generated in WSL, you need to define the DISPLAY variable: ''export DISPLAY=localhost:0.0'' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Testing ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The idea is to: | ||
+ | * Open a terminal and check that the ''DISPLAY'' environment variable is correctly defined on the local machine | ||
+ | * Connect to the remote machine | ||
+ | * Check that a (new) ''DISPLAY'' variable is defined on the remote machine | ||
+ | * Check that you can start an application using graphics (e.g. ''xterm'') on the remote machine | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Linux computer ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some basic commands in a terminal | ||
+ | |||
+ | <code>[Local] $ hostname | ||
+ | name_of_your_local_machine | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Local] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | :0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Local] $ ssh -X some_login@some_remote_server | ||
+ | [some connection information skipped here] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ hostname | ||
+ | name_of_the_remote_server | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost:20.0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ xterm</code> | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Windows computer with only an X server installed ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | We just open a ''Powershell'' window (''Start'' => ''Windows Powershell'' => ''Windows Powershell'') and type some basic commands | ||
+ | |||
+ | <code>PS C:\> $env:computername | ||
+ | name_of_your_local_machine | ||
+ | |||
+ | PS C:\> $env:DISPLAY | ||
+ | PS C:\> $env:DISPLAY="localhost:0" | ||
+ | PS C:\> $env:DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost:0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | PS C:\> ssh -Y some_login@some_remote_server | ||
+ | Warning: No xauth data; using fake authentication data for X11 forwarding. | ||
+ | [some connection information skipped here] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ hostname | ||
+ | name_of_the_remote_server | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost:19.0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ xterm</code> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Windows computer with PuTTY and an X server installed ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | We assume here that [[other:putty_conf|PuTTY is already installed and configured]] | ||
+ | |||
+ | We just have to open a pre-configured //Session// on a remote server | ||
+ | <code>[Remote] $ hostname | ||
+ | name_of_the_remote_server | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost:19.0 | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ xterm</code> | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Windows computer with WSL+Linux and an X server installed ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | * FIXME ''export DISPLAY=localhost:0.0'' | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ===== Troubleshooting ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Nothing works! ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | That's unfortunate, but: | ||
+ | * Have you turned on your computer? | ||
+ | * Do you have network access, and an account on a remote server? | ||
+ | * Have you run the [[other:x_conf#testing|Tests]]? | ||
+ | * Have you installed and configured the //X server// correctly? Is it really running? | ||
+ | * Have you configured [[other:putty_conf|PuTTY]] and/or other required applications correctly ? | ||
+ | * Is the ''DISPLAY'' variable defined correctly on the local and remote computer? | ||
+ | ==== OpenGL related settings ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | It's hard to know what the best OpenGL settings for your X server are: it depends on your local computer, the remote computer, the network speed, the application generating the graphics, the libraries' versions... | ||
+ | |||
+ | * If ''Native opengl'' is activated in VcXsrv, you //may// have to also use the following environment variable on the remote computer: ''export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1'' | ||
+ | * or maybe not! You can try to understand the [[https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/1437/what-does-libgl-always-indirect-1-actually-do|What does LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1 actually do?]] thread... | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Blurry display ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | * If you use ''VcXsrv'' and the content of some displayed //X windows// appear **blurry**, see if you can [[other:win10misc#vcxsrv_x_server|fix the compatibility settings]], or try to use **x410**. | ||