Display a desktop running on another server.

maglorn · 2025-10-19 18:18:22

My main computer runs Arch. I use LightDM and Xfce. X displays on VT7.

I have a VM running Debian on another server. I would like to run a full X display of the Debian server on my machine on, say, VT8.

I used to do this 30 years ago, using only X, on a network that I didn't manage. But I no longer can figure out how.

I would prefer an X only method, but I'm willing to try more modern methods.

Thanks

Last edited by maglorn (2025-10-19 18:28:53)

seth · 2025-10-19 19:42:09

Start with https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/OpenSSH#X11_forwarding

Edit: nb. that unlike 30 years ago "X11" is effectively not used since 20 years - the UI is typically rendered in the client into a pixmap and that's then pushed uncompressed into the server to render the drawable.
Iow this is relatively high payload.

Last edited by seth (2025-10-19 19:44:59)

maglorn · 2025-10-19 22:13:47

Thank you, Seth.

Yes, that page describes how to start an X program (running on another machine) to display on the local desktop. It is useful.

But I want to have an entire desktop from the remote machine displaying locally. So that my local desktop is available on VT7 and the desktop from the remote machine is available on, say, VT8.

Thanks again.

seth · 2025-10-19 22:28:46

"entire desktop" = many X programs, you can eg. "startxfce4" instead of "xclock"

If you want to supervise a remote desktop (ie. the desktop is running on a different host but you want to see what's going on or remote control it) that's more a VNC scenario, https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/TigerVNC (with the optional headless session - running it only remotely)

Arch Linux

#1 2025-10-19 18:18:22

Display a desktop running on another server.

#2 2025-10-19 19:42:09

Re: Display a desktop running on another server.

#3 2025-10-19 22:13:47

Re: Display a desktop running on another server.

#4 2025-10-19 22:28:46

Re: Display a desktop running on another server.

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