Xwindows

Overview

The X Window System, or X11, is a windowing system used for Linux and Unix operating systems. X provides the basic infrastructure for a GUI environment. A useful aspect of this is that you can export the display from your Linux shell login to a different display on the PC you are using or to a desktop on a remote computer. Or even a virtual desktop that you can set up using VNC or TightVNC - this VNC desktop you can then view on the same or different computer from either Windows or Linux.

The X.Org Foundation leads the X project and hosts reference implementation for it. X is available as free and open-source software under the MIT License. For more information on the X standard see the X.Org Foundation https://x.org/wiki/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System.

Exporting X display

You can export your Linux X display using the DISPLAY environment variable in Linux. This can be done either to another Linux machine or to a Windows machine where you are running a X server. The tips below indicate the procedure of how to export the display.

Export display from Linux to Linux

Assuming you have your Linux desktop open, and you want to log into another machine, let's call it remotepc, via ssh.

How to export display automatically via ssh -X option:

Open a terminal window. Type in:  ssh -X remotepc <entry>

This is all you should need to export the display to the desktop you logged in from. Test it out by starting another terminal, e.g. run: xterm & and see that the terminal pops up on your desktop.