Re: Cygwin/x set-up question

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Date: Wed, 26 Nov 2003 12:54:45 -0500

J. R. wrote:

> I need to preface this message by stating that I am very new to the
> Linux world. But, I am, quite familiar with Microsoft Windows
> products. Initially, I wanted to set-up a MS Terminal Server at home
> to allow my family to have remote access to our computer.
> Unfortunately, I found out that would be extremely expensive. So, I
> am turning to Linux to experiment with a solution. Please go easy on
> me, I am a newbie.
>
> I would like to be able to set up Cygwin/x on my Windows ME machine
> and run X-windows GUI sessions from remote computers (the remote
> computers would also be running Windows). I am hoping that X-windows
> will operate in a similar manner as MS Remote Desktop.

Yes and no.

X is a networked protocol that permits suitably written applications to
display their windows on remote machines. The X server is the mechanism that
provides those X apps with access to the remote machine's keyboard, mouse
and monitor.

It /is/ possible to run a complete 'desktop' on one machine, with the
display on another. However, it is /not/ possible (without costly purchased
code) to run that 'desktop' as an MSWindows desktop. It will have to be a
desktop that's entirely composed of X client applications.

> Is this
> possible? I understand that I will only be able to run X-windows
> apps, but, based on the large quantity of software available, that
> does not appear to be a problem.

That's "apps that use the X protocol, running on an MSWindows system".
Unless you intend to compile those apps yourself, you'll probably find that
there aren't as many apps as you think that will execute in this environment.

> I have downloaded and installed the Cygwin/x package to my computer
> and it appears to be running (basically, there is an "X" in the system
> tray).
>
> Here are my first questions:
>
> -How to I create new users?

Where do you want to create the new users?

> -How do I find out what the root password is?

Cygwin/X doesn't /have/ a root password. Unless you are asking what the
admininstator password on your Windows XP desktop is, I have to ask "which
system" do you want to use a root password on?

> -At this point, what do I need to do to access my computer remotely
> (where can I download a client for my remote Windows computers)?

As I said above, X client applications that run under MSWindows are rare.
Most are purchased products, but I guess that, with suitable source code
modification and recompilation, some freeware (OSS, etc.) will run under
MSWindows. freshmeat.net or sourceforge.net are good sources of X client
source code. tucows.com /might/ have some X client apps for MSWindows, but I
doubt it.

> Any help will be greatly appreciated.
>
> -Jake

-- 
Lew Pitcher, IT Consultant, Application Architecture
Enterprise Technology Solutions, TD Bank Financial Group
(Opinions expressed here are my own, not my employer's)

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