X-windows (X11) is recommended for most users, but VNC is useful when certain applications fail to run properly under X-windows, or when a persistent connection to the remote display is required.

Because secure connections are required in the Stanford timeshare environment, SSH must be used to encrypt the X-windows connection; most SSH clients have built-in support for X display forwarding.

If no terminal window opens, start one by selecting Terminal from the File menu or pressing COMMAND N.

You must specify the -X option to enable display forwarding.

If the -X option doesnt work try -Y.) For example: ssh -X sunetidrice.stanford.edu In some cases, enabling compression by specifying the -C option can improve performance, especially when connecting from outside the campus network: ssh -CX sunetidrice.stanford.edu.

After connecting, the remote machine will display a standard prompt, as with normal connections, but remote applications with a graphical user-interface will automatically use the local display.

It uses PuTTY, a built-in SSH client, to forward the display.

You do not need to have a separate copy of PuTTY installed; if you do have a separate copy installed you should not start a separate instance of PuTTY with X-Windows forwarding enabled before connecting, unless you have configured Xming accordingly.

Users of PuTTY may want to review the suggested configuration.

The 100dpi, Trutype, and Deja Vu fonts available in Xming-fonts are optional, but recommended.

An xterm window will open and the remote machine will display a standard UNIX prompt, as with normal connections.

However, remote applications with a graphical user-interface will automatically use the local display.

Xming will quit automatically when the xterm window is closed.

How To Use Xquartz