"Can't open display" Error when running X applications remotely

vmniza · 06-19-2007, 02:40 AM

I have been trying to run graphical applications remotely in my Fedora (GNOME Desktop)machine. I was able to do it sucessfully using ssh. But trying to do it by changing DISPLAY variable is not working.

I want to run a application say xcalc from a machine with IP 192.168.1.19 (so this is my X client). The display should be on my machine whose IP is 192.168.1.20 (this is my Xserver).

step 1: To enable 192.168.1.19 to write on my display, I issued the command xhost +192.168.1.19.

Step 2: in my x client(192.168.1.19), I change the DISPLAY variable by giving the command
DISPLAY=192.168.1.20:0.0

Step 3: I executed the command xcalc from 192.168.1.19.

I get the error : "Can't open display"

Can anyone help me please?? I don't want to do it with ssh..

ozzis · 06-19-2007, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vmniza

I have been trying to run graphical applications remotely in my Fedora (GNOME Desktop)machine. I was able to do it sucessfully using ssh. But trying to do it by changing DISPLAY variable is not working.

I want to run a application say xcalc from a machine with IP 192.168.1.19 (so this is my X client). The display should be on my machine whose IP is 192.168.1.20 (this is my Xserver).

step 1: To enable 192.168.1.19 to write on my display, I issued the command xhost +192.168.1.19.

Step 2: in my x client(192.168.1.19), I change the DISPLAY variable by giving the command
DISPLAY=192.168.1.20:0.0

Step 3: I executed the command xcalc from 192.168.1.19.

I get the error : "Can't open display"

Can anyone help me please?? I don't want to do it with ssh..

Look into this command:

X -query 192.168.1.20

The way it's typed above it will bring up the whole X session(provided you do not have X running on the client) but I think if you maybe say something like:

X -query xcalc 192.168.1.20
or
Xcalc -query 192.168.1.20

You get the drift. Good luck!

scada_man · 06-19-2007, 08:00 AM

Does xclock give you a similar result?

nx5000 · 06-19-2007, 09:05 AM

Has 192.168.1.20 an opened tcp port 6000?

Code:

netstat -lapute

on 192.168.1.20 shows 6000 opened?

You can also, from .19 try to connect to .20:

Code:

telnet 192.168.1.20 6000

or better

Code:

nc -vv 192.168.1.20 6000

Next step is to check that you properly have the authorization cookie.

Code:

xauth list

Do you have specific needs to not tunnel it in ssh?

ozzis · 06-20-2007, 02:25 AM

I don't think anyone would ever want to move from ssh to telnet for whatever reason if ever!

nx5000 · 06-20-2007, 04:25 AM

He didn't say he wants to use telnet.
I understand that he wants to ssh (without -X), so in a secure way.
But his Xwindow traffic has to go out of the ssh tunnel.

It's nearly the same as it's easy to inject characters in an X client, monitor keyboard strokes,..

Probably for educationnal purpose?

discodan7700 · 10-31-2010, 08:41 AM

I know this post is back from 07, but just in case it helps someone else out there...

I ran into this same issue and fixed it with the following command on the host PC ( aka the PC you are connecting to ).

Code:

xhost +

which returns

Code:

access control disabled, clients can connect from any host

Note: this only works per session. So if you log out from the host or reboot it, then the command will need to be reapplied. If this is a problem, maybe configure your session to run the command on login?

One other note: this also works if you need to su to another user and launch a Gui app. Example, my daughter is logged in, I want to check my email on her PC without logging her out or switching users. I go to terminal...

Code:

xhost +
su me
password
thunderbird

hope this helps,

-dan-

hahacc · 05-24-2011, 08:56 PM

I wrote an article:
http://www.doxer.org/learn-linux/use...11-forwarding/
Hope that help.

evaluna · 06-17-2011, 05:22 AM

in my debian squeeze I solved installing xauth pkg