Previous Next Table of Contents

9. networking X11

Netscape didn't work with this but mosaic did.

9.1 xhost pigeon

This command tell the RUNNING x11 server to allow any user on pigeon access to the X11 desktop. This is a security hole, because ANY user on pigeeon can access your desktop, including grabbing you keyboard hence reading your passwords. However, on isolated LAN's with only one user, you decide.

Pigeon must be in the local /etc/hostss file, and the authority expires when the X11 server exits (XF86_SVGA).

9.2 TODO - xauth

xhost is insecure, because ANY user at pigeon can get access to your DISPLAY. xauth is supposed to be better, but it's not a simple to setup. TCL/TK wont accept xhost, and demands xauth, so maybe I'll have a go one day.

9.3 export DISPLAY=trix:0.0 ; xterm &

Run these commands on pigeon (the remote host). It selects the X11 display where windows will be drawn (and keyboard), and runs the xterm program, which will appear on trix.

xterm is really running on pigeon, but it appears to be local. Because you exported DISPLAY, and sub-programs run from it ALSO appear on trix.


Previous Next Table of Contents