X11 forwarding/Send app to background

krypt0n.kr · 08-14-2008, 04:05 AM

Hello,

I'm using X11 forwarding on my server so I can use gFTP to download files on it.

How can I send gFTP to background in case I have to close the window and want the download to continue?

How can make gFTP continue if my connection to the server is cut.

I have always used "screen" with command line apps but I can't seem to figure out that one.

Thanks a lot.

krypt0n.kr · 08-15-2008, 08:48 AM

anyone?

Please, I need this urgently.

Thanks

estabroo · 08-15-2008, 10:15 AM

use a vnc server, fire up the gftp in it, you can connect and disconnect all you want and it'll keep on running, kind of like screen but with a gui.

matthewg42 · 08-15-2008, 10:49 AM

I assume you mean that you are using ssh and forwarding X11 using ssh? If so, why use FTP at all - scp would seem to be a lot more convenient.

If you want to forward some other port through an ssh tunnel, you do it like this when creating your ssh connection:

Code:

ssh -L port:host:hostport user@host

For example, for forward port 10000 on the local machine to port 21 (ftp) on the remote machine, you would do:

Code:

ssh -L 10000:localhost:21 user@host

You can then ftp to localhost port 10000, and it will connect to the remote machine on the FTP port:

Code:

ftp localhost 10000

Like I said though, you can do it all in one easy command using scp, and it supports more features - like recursive copying to get a whole directory tree. If you want to get even smarter, you might consider using rsync.

krypt0n.kr · 08-16-2008, 11:21 AM

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Quote:

use a vnc server, fire up the gftp in it, you can connect and disconnect all you want and it'll keep on running, kind of like screen but with a gui.

Thank you for the suggestion. However, I'd rather keep running a vnc server as a last option.

Quote:

assume you mean that you are using ssh and forwarding X11 using ssh?

Correct.

Quote:

If so, why use FTP at all - scp would seem to be a lot more convenient.

I am aware of how unsecure the FTP protocol is, but in this case, I do not see any problem using it.

As a matter of fact, I do use scp when I need to transfer files to my server.

The thing is, in this case, I need the FTP client installed on server S to have a GUI, so it can connect to FTP server F and download files (to S).
A user from workstation W will be performing the tasks.

Code:

W ----> S ----> F
	^       |
	|_______|

A web based FTP client would have been ideal, but I can't seem to find a good one. The only one I found is part of the AutoIndex project, and lacks basic functionality.

And due to the bad quality of Internet links we have here (W ---> S), connection problems are frequent, that's why it would be great if I can send the app to background once it is started.

All suggestions are welcome.

Thanks everyone...

matthewg42 · 08-17-2008, 03:18 PM

How about filezilla? A few years ago there was only a windows version, but I think now there is an X11 port.

krypt0n.kr · 08-18-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

How about filezilla? A few years ago there was only a windows version, but I think now there is an X11 port.

Hello Matthew,

The issue is not a lack of an FTP client for Linux.

I need either of the following:

1) An FTP client that can be sent to background, or a program similar to 'screens' but can support GUI programs (without having to run a vnc server).

OR

2) A web based FTP client (similar to AutoIndex's embedded ftp client but with better functionality) so that W can control S using a browser (note that S should not be used as a tunnel, since files should be downloaded from F to S, and not to W).

matthewg42 · 08-18-2008, 04:52 AM

Sorry for the mis-understanding, I think I get you now. There is xmove, which might do what you want.