SSH: X11 forwarding problems
 

Hello,

I am experiencing difficulties to use X forwarding. I am using a couple of RHEL5 virtual machines.

I am trying this command on the machine where I have GNOME installed:

#ssh -X root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx firefox
root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx's password:
Error: no display specified

On the same box I have the following DISPLAY defined

#echo $DISPLAY
:0.0

I have checked the ssshd config files on but remote and local servers and 'X11Forwarding' variable is set to 'yes'

Has anyone an idea?

Thanks a lot for your time.

Fred

what is your remote computer? windows or linux?
how are you trying to connect in the first place?

Both machines are running RHEL 5

Here is what I remember still about X11 forwarding:
http://www.hackinglinuxexposed.com/a.../20040705.html

basically BOTH machines should have all packages for X11 installed on them. Also try a simpler program such as gedit or xclock for testing that it actually works.

as for command line do this first:
ssh -X root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

then run the graphical program for testing.

I suggest to do a test using windows/putty/xming combination to narrow the error to one of the two machines.

Also do you have .Xauthority in your home? I remember that a bad .Xauthority used to cause me a lot of headaches.

If im running a login-manager like gdm i`m not able to start an X-program as root "directly". I get the message bout no display being specified.Either i need sux or gksu/kdesu.
You sure that aint the main problem?

Mh, i just checked: with slim as login-manager it works (both following ways):
ssh -X root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
passwd
fluxbox
and directly:
ssh -X root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx fluxbox