other:x_conf
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other:x_conf [2022/08/05 14:55] – [Testing] Added lots of information jypeter | other:x_conf [2022/08/10 08:55] – [Troubleshooting] Added the desktop shortcut does not work jypeter | ||
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====== Installing and configuring an X server ====== | ====== Installing and configuring an X server ====== | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | <WRAP center round tip 60%> | ||
+ | This detailed and easy-to-understand page will help you **set up things correctly on your own**, and help you **understand what you are doing** | ||
+ | |||
+ | Or you can ask somebody to quickly configure everything for you, and keep on believing that things work by magic... | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
===== What is an X server? ===== | ===== What is an X server? ===== | ||
- | An //X server// is not a server for distributing your perfect models output! | + | * An //X server// |
- | An //X server// is basically a program running on your local computer that understands the [[https:// | + | * An //X server// |
+ | * This page will mention a //'' | ||
+ | ===== What do we mean exactly with Local and Remote computers? ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | This page will very often mention **local computers**, | ||
+ | |||
+ | * The **local computer** is the desktop or laptop you are interacting with (using a screen+mouse+keyboard) | ||
+ | * The local computer can be a **Linux, Windows or Mac (i.e //OS X//) computer** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * The **remote computer or server** is another computer that you also want to interact with (using the screen+mouse+keyboard of your local computer) | ||
+ | * We only consider on this page the case of a **remote //Linux// machine** that **requires a local running //X server//** | ||
+ | |||
+ | * **Remote Linux machine** can mean several things: | ||
+ | * It can be another operating system running inside **a [[https:// | ||
+ | * We mostly consider on this page the case of a **Linux virtual machine** using [[other: | ||
+ | * It can be a **distant Linux computer or server** in your building, or a high performance Linux computer in a computing center on the other side of the Earth. It could also be a Linux virtual machine in the //Cloud// | ||
===== Using an X server on Linux ===== | ===== Using an X server on Linux ===== | ||
- | Linux computers come pre-configured with a running X server | + | <WRAP center round tip 60%> |
+ | You don't need to do anything special! | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
+ | Linux computers come pre-configured with a running | ||
===== Using an X server on Windows ===== | ===== Using an X server on Windows ===== | ||
- | There are several | + | There are several available |
==== Installing VcXsrv ==== | ==== Installing VcXsrv ==== | ||
Line 26: | Line 53: | ||
Type: <wrap em> | Type: <wrap em> | ||
- | Download the installer from [[https:// | + | Download the installer from [[https:// |
=== VcXsrv Configuration === | === VcXsrv Configuration === | ||
- | You need to configure '' | + | You need to configure '' |
- | * Start the configuration tool: '' | + | * Start the //configuration tool//: '' |
* Select '' | * Select '' | ||
* Select '' | * Select '' | ||
Line 39: | Line 66: | ||
* Click on '' | * Click on '' | ||
* Start the server by double-clicking on the new '' | * Start the server by double-clicking on the new '' | ||
- | * It will seem that nothing happens, but an '' | + | * It will seem that nothing happens, but an '' |
- | * 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 if you know that you will need an X server later | + | * The X server will stop when you close your Windows session or restart the computer. Do not forget to click on the '' |
+ | * FIXME Document how to automatically start the X server... | ||
* Note: you can right-click on the '' | * Note: you can right-click on the '' | ||
- | * You are now **ready**, if you only need VcXsrv to display graphical windows from remote servers | ||
==== Installing x410 ==== | ==== Installing x410 ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | <WRAP center round tip 60%> | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | |||
+ | This is an //X server//, and you will get the same functionalities as what is already provided for free by [[other: | ||
+ | * Once installed, '' | ||
+ | * If you move to another computer, you can install '' | ||
+ | * There seems to be more (useful) updates than for '' | ||
+ | * The interface is more modern, with more options, and there is a lot of useful information on the web site | ||
+ | * The '' | ||
+ | </ | ||
+ | |||
Type: <wrap em> | Type: <wrap em> | ||
- | [[https:// | + | Buy and install '' |
- | **Starting, configuring and exiting X410**: you can start X410 by clicking on it in the Windows Start Menu, or choose to [[https:// | + | === x410 configuration === |
- | * 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 | + | |
- | ==== Installing MobaXterm ==== | + | * Start '' |
+ | * It will seem that nothing happens, but an '' | ||
+ | * Right-click on the '' | ||
+ | * Select '' | ||
+ | * It is possible to **automatically start '' | ||
+ | * Open the **Windows Task Manager** (Right-click on '' | ||
+ | * Go to the '' | ||
+ | * Right-click on '' | ||
+ | * Note: if you need to quit the //X server//, you can right-click on the '' | ||
- | Type: <wrap em> | + | ===== Using an X server on a Mac ===== |
- | Available at [[https:// | + | ==== Installing XQuartz ==== |
+ | |||
+ | Type: <wrap em> | ||
- | ===== Using an X server on an Apple computer ===== | + | Download the installer from [[https:// |
+ | === XQuartz configuration === | ||
- | ===== Configuration on the remote machine ===== | + | <WRAP center round tip 60%> |
+ | Nothing to configure! | ||
+ | </ | ||
- | ==== If you are connecting with ssh ==== | + | ===== Configuration on the remote Linux server ===== |
- | Nothing special to do! | + | ==== If you are connecting with ssh or PuTTY ==== |
- | ==== If you are using WSL ==== | + | Nothing special to do, if you are using [[other: |
- | If you have installed [[other: | + | ==== If you are using Windows Subsystem for Linux ==== |
+ | In that special case, you will need the //X server// to display graphics [[other: | ||
+ | You have to make sure that the '' | ||
===== Testing ===== | ===== Testing ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Testing plan ==== | ||
The idea is to: | The idea is to: | ||
* Open a terminal and check that the '' | * Open a terminal and check that the '' | ||
+ | * If we use [[other: | ||
* Connect to the remote machine | * Connect to the remote machine | ||
- | * Check that a (new) '' | + | * Check that a (new) '' |
- | * Check that you can start an application using graphics | + | * Check that we can start an application using graphics |
+ | |||
+ | Test application: | ||
+ | * We need a simple graphical application that is likely to be already installed on the remote machine | ||
+ | * The **test is declared successful** if we get a new window and we can interact with it.\\ Note: some applications may start with their window iconified, and you may have to check the part of your screen where the iconified windows go... | ||
+ | * Do not forget to **cleanly quit the test application** when you have checked that it seems to work | ||
+ | * It's enough to test one application | ||
+ | * '' | ||
+ | * '' | ||
+ | The test may fail, due to the [[other: | ||
==== On a Linux computer ==== | ==== On a Linux computer ==== | ||
Line 102: | Line 166: | ||
localhost: | localhost: | ||
- | [Remote] $ xterm</ | + | [Remote] $ xterm &</ |
==== On a Windows computer with only an X server installed ==== | ==== On a Windows computer with only an X server installed ==== | ||
- | Some basic commands in a '' | + | We just open a '' |
< | < | ||
Line 126: | Line 190: | ||
localhost: | localhost: | ||
- | [Remote] $ xterm</ | + | [Remote] $ xterm &</ |
- | * Check the machine name, and check if the '' | ||
- | * You should get something similar to the following if you are connected with '' | ||
- | ciclad-ng.private.ipsl.fr | ||
+ | ==== On a Windows computer with PuTTY and an X server installed ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | We assume here that [[other: | ||
+ | |||
+ | We just have to open a pre-configured //PuTTY Session// on a remote server | ||
+ | < | ||
+ | name_of_the_remote_server | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost: | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ xterm &</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Windows computer with WSL+Linux and an X server installed ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | We assume that [[other: | ||
+ | |||
+ | Open a //WSL// terminal (you should know how, if you have installed //WSL//) and type some basic commands | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | name_of_your_local_machine | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Local WSL] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost: | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Local WSL] $ xterm & | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Local WSL] $ ssh -X some_login@some_remote_server | ||
+ | [some connection information skipped here] | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
+ | localhost: | ||
+ | |||
+ | [Remote] $ xterm &</ | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== On a Mac ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | FIXME | ||
+ | ===== Troubleshooting ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Can't start a graphical application by clicking on its desktop shortcut ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Check the shortcut and run the command directly in a terminal to check the error message | ||
+ | |||
+ | There is a good chance that you have forgotten to start the X server! | ||
+ | ==== Nothing works! ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | That's unfortunate, | ||
+ | * Have you turned on your computer? :-P | ||
+ | * Do you have network access, and an account on a remote server? :-? | ||
+ | * Have you run the [[other: | ||
+ | * Have you [[other: | ||
+ | * Have you configured [[other: | ||
+ | * Is the [[other: | ||
+ | |||
+ | === When DISPLAY is not defined correctly === | ||
+ | |||
+ | If the '' | ||
+ | |||
+ | < | ||
+ | $ xterm: Xt error: Can't open display: | ||
+ | xterm: DISPLAY is not set | ||
$ echo $DISPLAY | $ echo $DISPLAY | ||
- | localhost:68.0 | + | |
+ | $ setenv DISPLAY CRAP_DISPLAY | ||
+ | $ xterm | ||
+ | xterm: Xt error: Can't open display: CRAP_DISPLAY | ||
</ | </ | ||
- | * You should get something similar to the following if you are using WSL\\ < | ||
- | SOMETHING | ||
- | </ | ||
- | * Otherwise, type '' | ||
- | * Type '' | ||
- | * FIXME | ||
+ | Make sure that you are using '' | ||
- | ===== Troubleshooting ===== | + | === When there is no X server running |
+ | |||
+ | If the '' | ||
+ | xterm: Xt error: Can't open display: localhost: | ||
+ | Time to [[other: | ||
==== OpenGL related settings ==== | ==== 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' | + | 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' |
- | * If '' | + | * If '' |
* or maybe not! You can try to understand the [[https:// | * or maybe not! You can try to understand the [[https:// | ||
other/x_conf.txt · Last modified: 2024/07/10 10:54 by jypeter