Introduction
Access to a Linux graphical desktop from
a Microsoft Windows PC can be achieved by using XWinLogon. Other
methods are available, XWinLogon achieves the result with a minimum
of fuss though. XWinLogon can be downloaded from
the sourceforge website here.
There is very little user documentation available
on how to configure the Linux PC to be able to function with XWinLogon.
This article details the steps taken to successfully
use XWinLogon as a graphical client to a remote PC running Suse
Linux 9.1.
Linux Configuration
By default Suse Linux 9.1 does not allow remote
access. This can be changed by following the following steps:
By default the display manager does not listen for
connections from outside. In
/etc/X11/xdm/xdm-config the following line is
changed from
DisplayManager.requestPort: 0
to
!
DisplayManager.requestPort: 0
The KDM does not listen to XDMCP "X Windows
Display Manager Communications Protocol" by default. The
file /etc/opt/kde3/share/config/kdm/kdmrc has
a line which is changed from:
[Xdmcp]
Enable=false
to
[Xdmcp]
Enable=true
Sometimes the TCP/IP port XDMCP listens to is commented
out. If so it is changed from:
#Port=177
to
Port=177
After all the above changes, the Linux PC is rebooted.
Other Linux systems have more, or less, changes
which need to be made. An internet search using "XDMCP" as
the text to look for returns many "HOW-TO" documents which
detail what other flavours of Linux might require in terms of
configuration. The document titled Linux
XDMCP HOWTO was found
to be very good at explaining all the steps that
may be needed.
XWinLogon Options
XWinLogon offers 3 connection
types. XDMCP is selected. This option is unencrypted. For a small local
network, this is not an issue. It is possible to use SSH (secure shell),
but this does require more effort to get to work.
The documentation states that the OpenGL connection mode is only required
if 3D graphics are needed. In practise using OpenGL or Standard
does not seem to make much difference to performance.
The Window mode used is Single.
The server and user name fields are filled in with the server's IP address,
and the username used to log on.
Finally the connect button is pressed and eventually the Linux desktop
logon screen is displayed within the XWinLogon window.
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