Linux: Terminal Server Edition
Posted: 9/23/1999 8:32:00 PM
By: Comfortably Anonymous
Times Read: 2,294
0 Dislikes: 0
Topic: Linux
Parent Message
While you have to pay outrageous bucks to get the Terminal Server version of NT which allows simultaneous multiple desktops (aka people) on an NT Server at one time, Linux comes with everything you need - for Free!

This is done by exporting the X (some incorrectly call it X-Window, but it's real name is XFree86) display to another machine. This can be done simultaneously for multiple users, essentially giving you the same type of functionality as a Windows NT Terminal Server gives you.

That machine that you export the display to can be another Linux box (including a low-end box that is only fit to display what is processed on the Linux server box) or you can get an X Client for even an NT machine. Of course, since it is running on Windows, it will (guess what) cost you money! I guess there is a free Win32 X client out there, but it is pretty sketchy and will not support something like a full KDE desktop on it. (If I am wrong, PLEASE let me know!)

I am going to present the steps on how to do this from my configuration (A Windows 98 box with Hummingbird's Exceed X Client) connecting to my Linux server which I have the KDE Window Manager (think desktop environment/GUI on NT/9x) installed. If your configuration is different, the basic export command will remain the same, but starting your X client and starting your window manager is up to you.

1) Use a telnet client to telnet to the linux server. Get logged in.

2) Start your X client. It should open to a blank desktop.

3) The next step is to export your display. This tells Linux to begin expecting a connection from an X client. The command is:

export DISPLAY=:0.0

for example:

export DISPLAY=interregnum:0.0

or

export DISPLAY=10.10.10.10:0.0

(Nothing happens on your X client at this point, it runs the command then returns to the command prompt in the telnet window)

3) Now, to actually get everything working, start your window manager (KDE in this case). In the telnet window, type:

KDE

Now you will begin to see something happen. Sometimes you'll get messages about your X Client not supporting certain things - don't panic, just click OK.

After 20 - 30 seconds, your desktop should be fully displayed and you will have a full X session on your remote client!

Use your X client for as long as you want. When you finally log off, you will need to return to your telnet session (remember that?) and actually log yourself fully off of the Linux Server.

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If all goes well it's as easy as that above!

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