I'm trying to get X11 over SSH working, from my laptop to my desktop. Both are running Slackware 11. The instructions and tutorials all claim it works automagically -- configure ssh_config and sshd_config, ssh -X user@remotebox, and you're gold. However, $DISPLAY is not being set when I SSH in, where any recent post on the topic says it should be. I've checked /etc/profile on the remote box, and it's not doing anything to $DISPLAY; the only two files in my home directory are .bash_history and an empty .Xauthority. This is new to me, so if there's something I might have overlooked, please tell me.

Thanks

So, "echo $DISPLAY" returns nothing? Try using -Y for trusted X11 forwarding (like -X, but not concerned about Authority)

Still nothing from using -Y.

I have gotten this same error. I have X11 running fine on the remote computer on DISPLAY :10, and when I try to ssh with -Y or -X, I can ssh in, but have no display. When I type echo $DISPLAY in ssh, I get nothing back. I have also tried logging in to ssh as root with -Y and -X, and I get the same scenario. I am running Ubuntu 10.04 x64 on the remote computer and openssh (Maemo ARM) on the client.

Hello,

I will use the term "server" and "client", knowing that X is Server<->Server architecture and server/client is a misnomer but it helps facilitate a discussion. There are several things that can cause this. You've ruled out the simple ones:

1. DISPLAY is not set on client (you explicitly set it)
2. xhost + (not needed with SSH tunneling)
3. SSH supports X forwarding (make sure /etc/ssh/sshd_config is set to allow this)
4. Make sure your SSH on the "server" was compiled to to allow X (most RPM and YUM available packages are)
5. etc

The other factor could be a missing library or something on your "server" related to X.

I solved this problem by installing my missing X subsystem via yum:

1. Code:

   yum install xorg-x11-server-Xdmx.x86_64

2. Code:

   yum install xterm.x86_64

3. Code:

   yum install xorg-x11-xinit.x86_64

Then when I rebooted the server (I could have started everything manually) it worked. I could or .

Good luck,
David