installing the X to set a minimal graphical environment for shh -X
 

Hello all

Im installing a minimal graphical environment in my debian server, so i can SSH -X from another machine, i dont really need a desktop on the server itself because its a headless server.

I have doubs both in components, and overall install details, lets see:

-Looks like i need 4 different packages:

1) graphical environment ( xserver-xorg-core xorg )
2) login manager ( gdm )
3) desktop package ( fluxbox )
4) running app's ( firefox, virtualbox, etc)


Ok, first one installs the graphical libraries i suppose, second one the login screen? (DO I REALLY NEED THAT?) and the 3rd one the desktop (AND THIS?).

As i stated in the title, i just want to run SSH -X from a client to remotelly control firefox, virtualbox and little more.


QUESTONS:
Could xorg and xserver-xorg-core be the only really necesary packages???(except the app's ones)

Everytime i restart my server, i guess it will reboot on graphical mode.. can i disable the graphical mode as default, and still use SSH -X? i mean, boot in text mode, and type: "startx" only if i need it running? but still be working for ssh -x petitions?

After all, am i on the correct way to achieve what i stated in the thread subjet?, what would you change?

This question goes as expanding knowledge on the subject:
x-window-system-core
gnome-desktop
x-window-system

What is the difference with mines?

2 and 3 are not needed at all. I think even 1 may not be needed because you would actually be using the xserver on your client machine.

That will only be the case if you install a graphical login manager.

My suggestion would be to just install whatver applications you want (firefox, virtualbox, etc) and let the dependancy manager take care of the rest.

ok, its easy to make a test in a VM and install just firefox on a server, lets see what does it install

and about the login manager, is there any way to enable / disable the X11 boot? i mean, text boot, and ONLY if i want, make a startx

Yes, just don't install a graphical login manager. As far as I know from your four steps is only step 4 needed, install the apps you want to use over SSH. No need for a startx, just call, from the console, iceweasel or virtualbox, ... .

You will need the xorg and x-server packages on the remote system as that is how the client apps know how to talk to the local system. You will obviously also need the apps. To get a system to boot into text mode, modify /etc/inittab and change the id line to 'id:3:initdefault:'.

Also, you probably want to use "ssh -Y" instead of "ssh -X" as it is more secure.

HTH

Forrest

lol im stuck into the basics

aptitude install firefox on a clean server, doesnt find the package. I found openssh-server and vim though...

You will not find Firefox in Debian, you have to use iceweasel, it is Firefox without the branding.

Ok,

I CAN CONFIRM that just installing
-ssh
-iceaweasel

i could ssh -X and open iceweasel from a remote pc.

I ran
-aptitude show xorg
-aptitude shoow xserver-xorg-core

and both showed that those packages are NOT INSTALLED.



Now, 2 questions

i wonder if instead ssh -X and app like iceawesel, i could run any kind of desktop environment where i can install graphically virtualbox...

and, in order to complete my minimal desktop install, i still need:

xorg xserver-xorg-core (sure)
gdm? (do i need it?)
fluxbox? (i guess sure too, right?)

If you don't need to install a graphival environment for iceweasel, I think you also won't need it to run virtualbox.
But if you do it, please let me know if that works.

yeah right i dont need, but i dont know if i expressed myselft correctly.

I mean, its cool to work with iceweasel or virtualbox via GUI in another PC. I can have 1 window with one, and another window with the other program, but, i only have that: windows.

Can i go one step further, and, without installing graphical libraries on the server, connect to a "desktop environment" where i can run both of my "simple windows" app's?