How do I access xwindows after logging from a telnet session.

you can't do it over telnet. telnet is crap. try ssh, you will of course need to be runnign X locally in order to run any applications.

there are much largeer solutions around aswell, such as XDMCP and VNC. have a look around.

If the two machines are on the same network then you need to do two things:
asdfasdf

As I was trying to say...

Let's say you're sitting at a machine called acorn and connecting to a machine called banana. If the two machines are on the same net you need to

a: on acorn (the X server), open access permissions for the display
The simplest, but least secure ways to do it is:
xhost + # this opens access to anyone
xhost +banana #only to banana

man xhost for more secure options, also check out xauth

b: on banana (the X client) set the environment variable DISPLAY so it refers to the first display on acorn
export DISPLAY=acorn:0


Then, on banana, fire up a simple X app such as xlogo as a test.


If the two machines have a firewall between them (blocking port 6000), then you can tunnel the connection using ssh.

this still will not work under telnet. only ssh

Well that depends on your interpretation of doing it through telnet. If you are allowed direct access to the machines xserver usually at port 6000. Then you can telnet to the machine and set the display and start an x application. A new connection to port 6000 will be opened to handle all the xserver stuff, but you've started the application from a telnet connection.
It's just that ssh does it in a different way, it allows all the data sent to and from the server to pass through a ssh tunnel so it will also be encrypted. And at the same time bypass firewalls.

shows how much i know... sorry...