X-client Only Instalation

M

mefizto

Greetings all,

I have a headless server running on FreeBSD 8.1, to which I log via console from several other machines. I would like to add an X-client to the server so that I can forward X over ssh to the machines running X-server.

There does not seem to be an X-client port in the ports. Do I need to install the entire X port?

Kindest regards,

M
 
There's no such thing as an X-client. The applications that use X are the clients.
 
Greetings all,

perhaps - very likely - I am confused:

X uses a client–server model: an X server communicates with various client programs. The server accepts requests for graphical output (windows) and sends back user input (from keyboard, mouse, or touchscreen). The server may function as:

* an application displaying to a window of another display system
* a system program controlling the video output of a PC
* a dedicated piece of hardware.

This client–server terminology — the user's terminal being the server and the applications being the clients — often confuses new X users, because the terms appear reversed. But X takes the perspective of the application, rather than that of the end-user: X provides display and I/O services to applications, so it is a server; applications use these services, thus they are clients.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that what is on the computer from which I will connect and which will display forwarded X-packets is a server, what is on the remote machine which provides the packets is called a client. However, regardless of the terminology, I need a that part of X-windows system that I can install on the remote server and to which I can connect to from a plurality of other computers.

I hope that I have not confused the issue even more.

Kindest regards,

M
 
mefizto said:
My understanding is that what is on the computer from which I will connect and which will display forwarded X-packets is a server, what is on the remote machine which provides the packets is called a client.
Click to expand...
Very close, and it's what most new users understand.

However, regardless of the terminology, I need a that part of X-windows system that I can install on the remote server and to which I can connect to from a plurality of other computers.
Click to expand...
The "client" bit with regards to the X-Windowing System are applications. And by that I mean stuff like firefox or Mousepad for instance. It's those applications that connect to the X-server, i.e. they are the client. In short, just install the application and the "X-client" bit will get installed.
 
SirDice,

Thank you for the reply; I believe that I understand everything except this part:

In short, just install the application and the "X-client" bit will get installed.
Click to expand...

So considering my demonstrated stupidity, let me suggest this terminology:

Server - a head-less, keyboard-less, piece of hardware with an OS (FreeBSD without X-windows), which holds data a provides services.
Terminal - a piece of hardware (with different OSes, e.g., *nix, Windows), with a display and a keyboard that will connect to the Server (e.g., via ssh) and receive and display X-packets.

Now, on the Terminal I will have to install a piece of (X-windows related) software enabling display of the forwarded X-packets. Correct? If so, what is the correct term for this in *nix parlance?

On the Server, I will have to install a piece of (X-windows related) software that will provide the X-packets? Correct? If so, what is the correct term for this in *nix parlance?

Or, am I still hopelessly confused?

Kindest regards,

M
 
mefizto I believe I am confused by what you want. Maybe my interpretation may help.

If I want to run firefox or kpatience or what not on a headless machine I simply log in (lets say on mac osx via x11 terminal) with this:

% ssh -X xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

then type what program I want to run as if I was on the console at that machine.
 
UNIXgod,

mefizto I believe I am confused by what you want.
Click to expand...

Welcome to my world, Confused is my middle name. Can I change my sign-up name to this? ;)

If I want to run firefox or kpatience or what not on a headless machine I simply log in (lets say on mac osx via x11 terminal) with this:

% ssh -X xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Click to expand...

I understand that, this is what SirDice suggested. However, for this to work, I believe that I need to install some components of the X-windows system both on the Server and on the Terminal.

Let me try again, with reference to the terminology of my last post.

Currently, the Server has FreeBSD without any X-windows components installed, ssh is enabled. The Terminal is running an arbitrary OS (*nix, Windows, OS X, whatever), without any X-windows components, but with ssh enabled. When I ssh from the terminal to the Server, all I get on the Terminal is a console, in which I can perform the Server's maintenance.

What I would like to achieve, is to be able to ssh into the Server from the Terminal and have an X-windows on the Terminal, so that I can have xterms, xclock, etc., displayed on the Terminal.

As noted above, it is my belief that to achieve this, I need to install some components of the X-windows system both on the Server and on the Terminal.

Is this clearer?

I appreciate everybody's patience.

Kindest regards,

M
 
X client is an application linked with the 'xlib'.

Server is daemon like Xorg running with a graphical card and monitor attached.

You can install any graphical application on any machine without a monitor and run it via ssh -X and it will send the window information to your server machine.
 
expl,

thank you for the reply. If I understand correctly, on the Server I do not need to install anything because the X-windows packets will be generated by:

X client is an application linked with the 'xlib'
Click to expand...

On the Terminal I need to install the entire X daemon, e.g., X.org - /usr/port/x11.

What is then the /usr/port/x11-server for?

Kindest regards,

M
 
x11/xorg is a meta-port, a port that installs a lot of other ports which comprise the whole X.Org release.

x11-servers/xorg-server is the X server, the portion that uses keyboard and mouse drivers for user input and a graphics driver to switch the video card into graphics mode and let client programs draw on it. It's one of the components of the full xorg port; there are many more.
 
wblock,

thank you for the explanation. Now it starts to make sense.

So on the Server I do not need to install anything based on expl's post. On the Terminal I need to install X-server.

Did I finally got it?

Kindest regards,

M
 
Programs that need X will pull in the X libraries and related things as dependencies when you install them on the "Server". It should not need the full xorg there, but may want to install it as a dependency anyway. Setting
Code: 
WITHOUT_X11=yes
in /etc/make.conf may allow libraries but prevent the whole thing from installing; untested, haven't experimented with that lately.
 
wblock said:
Setting
Code: 
WITHOUT_X11=yes
in /etc/make.conf may allow libraries but prevent the whole thing from installing; untested, haven't experimented with that lately.
Click to expand...
A port build with WITHOUT_X11 will have no support for X whatsoever.
 
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