x-windows clients - changing the display
 

Hi all

I run a Debian based server at home, as well as a few Linux and Windows desktops. However, I get frustrated with having to open new client apps on the different machines to do the same job. This is especialy anoying with IM clients, where logging into another machine disconnects the precious one.

Is there any way to run an application (say Gaim) on my server in some sort of virtual X display (framebuffer?), then issue a command to change the display to that of the machine I am currently working on, and then change it back when I am finished? I know I could do this with VNC and similar, but I would prefer them to appear as apps in my current X session (appear themselves on the taskbar etc). I seem to remember reading about some sort of X proxy that could do this at one time, but I cannot find it anymore.

Thanks in advance for any help you may be able to offer,
Mouse

You can do this with the Linux machines, infact its what X was designed for.

Heres the Remote X Apps Mini-HOWTO to get you going.

Thanks, but maybe I was not clear in my first message.

I already know about using an X server and client on different machines. What I would like to do is be able to change the X server being used by the client mid-session. For example, I am running (eg) Pidgin IM client on my server, displaying on my workstation's X server. Then, I move to my second desktop and switch Pidgin to use this machines X server. Next I shut down both machines, but first switch Pidgin to run on a dummy X server running on my server box.

I hope this is clear. I use Pidgin IM client as an example as this is the main reason I would like to do this, but other things (such as email client etc) would be just as useful.