Forward X11 applications over SSH on Windows (Cygwin)

in this video I show you how to set up X11, the Linux GUI server using Cygwin on Windows and how to access Linux GUI based applications on a remote server using X forwarding over SSH on Windows.

First you must install Cygwin and then the three packages
xorg-server, xinit and ssh

then once your cygwin environment is set up, you can run the Xserver over the Windows desktop seamlessly by executing the command

XWin -nodecoration -rootless

Cygwin does not provide a desktop environment like GNOME or KDE so I use the KDE 3.5 desktop that is available on the RHEL 5 server at my school in order to demonstrate.

[Cyriacdt]

This video is awesome. I think the easier way to get window decorator is to go to program files, cigwin-x and open xwin-server from there. Then you get the default windows windows decorator

[RyanCuda]

the process would be a little bit more complicated but yes. what you would need to do is expose your virtual machine directly to the rest of your network. The best way to do that is to change your ethernet controller on your virtual machine to a bridge connection using a separate MAC than the host system. This will essentially make the VM look just like any other machine attached to your router. Find your vm's IP and connect to it like your normally would and all should work.

[RyanCuda]

theoretically yes, but not with this particular setup. You need to be able to launch an X server from each client along the way (Windows XP running Cygwin > ssh AS ROOT into remote KDE system and launch X server over SSH > ssh into remote GNOME system and launch GNOME over X on the KDE system.

And it goes without saying but it would be VERY slow.

[Jeff]

I'm running Windows 8 and I first tried this with only the packages you mentioned installed and I received an error trying to run xterm. So I installed all packages thinking maybe I was missing one, but I'm getting the same error:

1 [main] xwin 3680 child_info_fork::abort: C:\cygwin\bin\cygXdmcp-6.dll: Loaded to different address: parent(0x2C0000) != child(0x340000)
fork() to run command failed

[flash]

Are you running KDE on top of Windows which is virtualized on in OSX? Can you get a Gnome instance going on top of that? :-P

[pramukhgirish]

Hey Ryan where did u add the command u showed on the note pad ???

[Msgtfox]

Ryan, is this also the process for file sharing servers?
I want to set up a file-server so I can automatically send files to people in a game.

But I have yet to find any easy way, or good tutorial to do it. =/

[COMPNETWORXXX]

SIr one more question for gnome what command will for win decoration thank you for your help

[COMPNETWORXXX]

Sir i try to make tutorial videos using this tricks for sake of video resolution but my question is can i connect to virtual box running linux distro despite of using remote location
sir please answer my question its ver kind of you

[boliussa]

what was the name of that file you edited to, it seems, give a list of packages to install?

[suza.]

Hi,

I've installed everything, but I'm having trouble starting and using Xwin. When I type "startxwin" in the command line on a cygwin terminal, the X win icon does appear at the bottom in my task bar on the right side, but I can' t open any windows with it. The options when right-clicking are: FAQ, User's Guide, View logfile, Reload .Xwinrc, Hide root window, Clipboard may use PRIMARY selection, About.. and Exit. This video loses me after he changes the path - he types "dir" and then what??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[RyanCuda]

Need more info. What part isn't working, at what point does it fail?

[panitanwongse-ammat]

Hi,

Everything works well until I try to type both kdesktop & and kicker &. After I enter each command, there is messages showing that kdesktop: Command not found. and kicker: Command not found. . Thus, I cannot get access to the GUI of the computer I like to remote. 

Do you have other approaches ?  
I used to see someone type in only one command in the cygwin to have access to the GUI of a Unix computer.

Thanks alot,

[tyroneslothdrop]

If I have Cygwin installed on two Windows machines, is there any way to remotely access applications on my Windows machine, such as iTunes?

[tenzdhen]

didn't work for my Windows 8 after following everything

[CyrusMurphy]

To me, it seems easier to just create a Linux virtual server using VirtualBox and get native support.

[COMPNETWORXXX]

Thanks a lot !
Br its work thanks again
May Allah replace you with good

[davehartx]

you might get
C:\cygwin\bin\cygXdmcp-6.dll: Loaded to different address: parent(0x2C0000) != child(0x340000) fork() to run command failed
 if so, , don't panic . kill all cywin processes ( I rebooted!) and run 
ash
rebaseall 

it fixed it for me