I have a server running CentOs thats hosted remotely so I would like to be able to connect with a remote desktop from a windows machine, right now I can only use a ssh console. I used [yum groupinstall "X Window System" "GNOME Desktop Environment"] on the linux server and installed Cygwin on the windows client but now have no idea what to do.

The way I've done it in the past (the hard way, probably ;)): Your server needs to have an X application or desktop manager installed and SSH up and running and accessible, as you've already done.

You will need a X server running on your Windows desktop. So, install X in Cygwin, open a terminal and start up a X server on your desktop (xinit). Make sure DISPLAY is set properly; echo $DISPLAY should show something like :0.0. In the terminal, we'll forward X to the server via SSH, just like you'd normally log on with ssh, but with a -X added: e.g., ssh -X 123.456.789.0. In the SSH session, execute a X application (gnome-session, gdm, anything) and it should show up in your desktop's X server.

Alternatively Xming, which I think I found easier..

There might also be a thing with XDMCP:
http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2008-October/065617.html

Also you may need to set appropriate firewall rules [but maybe not if you use the approach above which goes over ssh]. That was something I never figured out, but since my server is on my local network I just log in with ssh and disable the firewall when necessary (services iptables stop). That could be a bad idea though.

Also you may need to run "init 5" from ssh to start graphical mode before you can log in.

When I tried startx I got

Fatal server error:
PAM authentication failed, cannot start X server.
Perhaps you do not have console ownership?

How do I fix it and why do I need authentication when I'm already using ssh


Also why do I need a password to download Xming

EDIT:

Why can't I copy/paste from Cygwin


Whats the point in having a graphical interface if you have to master the console commands, edit config files and set bash variables before your allowed to use it.


EDIT2:
Is X automatically installed on cygwin? Every tutorial on how to install cygwin/x shows how to install cygwin and nothing else.


[Edited by - Kaze on July 13, 2010 1:41:24 PM]

Quote: Original post by Kaze
When I tried startx I got

Fatal server error:
PAM authentication failed, cannot start X server.
Perhaps you do not have console ownership?

How do I fix it and why do I need authentication when I'm already using ssh

Did you enter that on your server? (I'm guessing so, since I don't think PAM is usually available in Cygwin.) If so, it is trying to start a new X server on your server, rather than connect to the X server on your desktop. Since the X server is already running (on your desktop of course), try an X application or desktop environment (xterm, gnome-session).

I figured out how to install x on cygwin, now:

1: how do I use gnome instead of the default x

2: how do I connect to a remote computer

3: what port will it use or can I use ssh

Quote: Original post by Kaze
I figured out how to install x on cygwin, now:

1: how do I use gnome instead of the default x

GNOME must be installed on the server, start it with gnome-session.

Quote: Original post by Kaze
2: how do I connect to a remote computer

Using SSH? ssh -X your_server's_hostname_or_ip_address

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding the question.

Quote: Original post by Kaze
3: what port will it use or can I use ssh

The SSH daemon will by default listen to port 22. Usually, SSH defaults to disallowing root logins but allowing other accounts access with a password. As far as I remember, the X communication is tunneled through the SSH connection.