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 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.

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!

There are several options available

Type: free

Download the installer from VcXrsv and install VcXsrv.

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 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 appears 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!
    
  • 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
  • Note: you can right-click on the X icon and select Exit… if you need to quit the X server
• You are now ready, if you only need VcXsrv to display graphical windows from remote servers

Type: commercial

x410 is a low cost commercial X server that can be directly installed from the Microsoft store. Once installed, it will be automatically updated by the Microsoft Store application.

Starting, configuring and exiting X410: you can start X410 by clicking on it in the Windows Start Menu, or choose to 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

Type: commercial

Available at MobaXterm, not tested. This seems to be more than just an X server, and may be an overkill if you just need an X server

Nothing special to do!

If you have installed 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

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

Some basic commands in a terminal

[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

We just open a Powershell window (Start ⇒ Windows Powershell ⇒ Windows Powershell) and type some basic commands

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

We assume here that PuTTY is already installed and configured

We just have to open a pre-configured Session on a remote server

[Remote] $ hostname
name_of_the_remote_server

[Remote] $ echo $DISPLAY
localhost:19.0

[Remote] $ xterm

• export DISPLAY=localhost:0.0

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 Tests?
• Have you installed and configured the X server correctly? Is it really running?
• Have you configured PuTTY and/or other required applications correctly ?
• Is the DISPLAY variable defined correctly on the local and remote computer?

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 What does LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1 actually do? thread…

• If you use VcXsrv and the content of some displayed X windows appear blurry, see if you can fix the compatibility settings, or try to use x410.

[ PMIP3 Wiki Home ] - [ Help! ] - [ Wiki syntax ]