[SOLVED] Run binary in one server, display graphics output in another: frame buffer in ram?

Ulysses_ · 02-11-2015, 06:55 AM

X allows you to run a binary in one server and display its graphics output in another server. I think you do it by typing -display 192.168.2.5:0.0 as a command line argument, where 192.168.2.5 is an example server where the graphics output appears.

When that is done, does the X graphics output of the binary also appear in a frame buffer in ram in the server where the binary is run?

rknichols · 02-11-2015, 08:58 AM

Actually, the place where the binary runs is the client, and the machine with the display is the X server. The X Window System calls from the binary are routed to the server, which renders the image. The image is not present in the client machine.

Ulysses_ · 02-11-2015, 09:29 AM

That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks.

You know if these X system calls contain text such as a credit card number when the binary is a browser?

rknichols · 02-11-2015, 12:13 PM

Obviously anything that shows up on the screen gets there via a message from client to server. And of course all of your keystrokes are carried in messages in the other direction. Not sure what more you are asking.

Ulysses_ · 02-11-2015, 02:00 PM

Thought it was pixel blocks that got transfered from the X guest to the X server, not ASCII codes, are there ASCII codes too in that direction? Keystrokes going in the opposite direction are another issue.

rknichols · 02-11-2015, 02:08 PM

The font rendering is done on the server. The only time pixel blocks are transferred is when the client has a picture to display.

Ulysses_ · 02-11-2015, 04:53 PM

Is there any software that does the same job but only transfers pixel blocks and does not use a frame buffer in the client, only tiny pixel block buffers?

rknichols · 02-11-2015, 08:50 PM

Sounds more like a remote display to me, but I seriously doubt you'll find one that doesn't use a frame buffer at the source (which would now be a remote display server, reversing the roles that the X Window System would be using).