Xming For Mac



  • Using the built-in SSH client in Mac OS X. Mac OS X includes a command-line SSH client as part of the operating system. To use it, goto Finder, and selext Go - Utilities from the top menu. Then look for Terminal. Terminal can be used to get a local terminal window.
  • An advanced terminal that gives Windows users a powerful, Unix-like command-line.
  • The XQuartz project is an open-source effort to develop a version of the X.Org X Window System that runs on OS X. Together with supporting libraries and applications, it forms the X11.app that Apple shipped with OS X versions 10.5 through 10.7.
  • Xming should be installed by default on ECE Windows Lab systems. This page contains pointers on running X11 applications on the ECE Linux Lab systems on a Windows system via Xming and PuTTY. Mac OS X systems can use XQuartz and run the command ssh -XY somelinuxlabhost in a terminal, though that is not covered here.

Overview

Use SSH and XMing to Display X Programs From a Linux Computer on a Windows Computer: If you use Linux at work, and Windows at home, or vice versa, you might at times need to log in to the computer at your other location, and run programs. Well, you can install an X Server, and enable SSH Tunneling with your SSH Client, and one-up b.

The X Window System (also known as X11, or just X) is a software package and network protocol that lets you interact locally, using your personal computer's display, mouse, and keyboard, with the graphical user interface (GUI) of an application running on a remote networked computer.

Install X11 On Mac

You can use X forwarding in an SSH session on your personal computer to securely run graphical applications (X clients) installed on the Indiana University research supercomputers.

Requirements

For X forwarding in SSH to work, your personal computer must be running an X server program. The X server program manages the interaction between the remote application (the X client) and your computer's hardware.

Most Linux distributions have the X server installed, but if your personal computer is running Windows or macOS, you will most likely need to install and run an X server application. For example:

  • For Windows, download and install Xming. For X forwarding to work, you'll need to start Xming before connecting to the remote system with your SSH client (for example, PuTTY).
  • For macOS, download and install XQuartz. For X forwarding to work, you'll need to start XQuartz before making an SSH connection to the remote system. Once XQuartz launches, you can use X forwarding with SSH from the Terminal or from the xterm application in XQuartz.

Additionally, your personal computer's SSH terminal application must have X11 forwarding enabled:

  • In Linux, the SSH terminal supports X forwarding by default.
  • In macOS, you may need to edit your ssh_config file (typically found at /etc/ssh/ssh_config or ~/.ssh/config) if you have trouble using X forwarding. If ssh_config includes #X11Forwardingno (or just X11Forwarding no), uncomment out the line (remove the leading #), and change it to X11Forwarding yes.
  • In PuTTY for Windows, you can enable X forwarding in new or saved SSH sessions by selecting Enable X11 forwarding in the 'PuTTY Configuration' window (Connection > SSH > X11).

Also, the remote computer's SSH application must be configured to accept X server connections. The IU research supercomputers all have SSH configured to allow X forwarding (trusted mode only).

Use SSH with X forwarding

Linux or macOS

Xquartz

To use SSH with X forwarding on your Linux or macOS personal computer to run an X client application installed on an IU research supercomputer:

  1. Open your SSH terminal client.
  2. On the command line, enter (replacing username with your IU username):
    • For Big Red 3:
    • For Carbonate:
    • For Karst:
  3. Log in with your IU passphrase.
Xming

To test if X forwarding is working, try running xclock; on the command line, enter:

If X forwarding is working, the xclock graphical clock will appear on your personal computer's desktop.

PuTTY for Windows

To use SSH with X forwarding in PuTTY for Windows:

  1. Launch your X server application (for example, Xming).
  2. Make sure your connection settings for the remote system have Enable X11 forwarding selected; in the 'PuTTY Configuration' window, see Connection > SSH > X11.
  3. Open an SSH session to the desired remote system:
    System Hostname
    Big Red 3bigred3.uits.iu.edu
    Carbonatecarbonate.uits.iu.edu
    Karstkarst.uits.iu.edu
  4. Log in normally with your IU username and passphrase.

To test if X forwarding is working, try running xclock; on the command line, enter:

If X forwarding is working, the xclock graphical clock will appear on your personal computer's desktop.

Use X forwarding for interactive sessions

On Carbonate or Karst

On Carbonate or Karst, if your interactive session requires:

  • Less than 20 minutes of processor time: Connect via SSH with X forwarding enabled, and then launch the X client from the command line.
  • More than 20 minutes of processor time: Submit a request for an interactive job via the batch system.

    To do so, connect via SSH with X forwarding enabled, and then:

    1. Use the TORQUEqsub command to submit an interactive job request. Add the -I (for interactive) and -X (for X forwarding) flags; for example (on Karst):
    2. If the X client is not already added to your user environment, load the appropriate module; for example:
    3. From the command prompt, launch the X client; for example:

On Big Red 3

On Big Red 3, submit a request for an interactive job with X11 forwarding in the debug or general partition, and then launch your X application from a compute node:

Xming Download Free

Xming
  1. SSH to Big Red 3 with X forwarding enabled.
  2. On the command line, use the Slurm srun command with the --x11 flag to request an X11-enabled interactive session in the debug or general partition; for example:

    For more about using the Slurm srun command, see Use Slurm to submit and manage jobs on high performance computing systems.

  3. Once you are placed on a compute node, you can launch graphical X applications (for example, xterm), as well as your own binaries, from the command line. Depending on the application and your ~/.modules file, you may need to load the module for the desired X client before launching the application.
Xquartz

Get help

X11 Mac Os

Xming

Support for IU research supercomputers, software, and services is provided by the Research Technologies division of UITS. To ask a question or get help, contact UITS Research Technologies.

X11 Mac

Mac

For more about using Modules to configure your user environment, see Use Modules to manage your software environment on IU's research supercomputers.