So something like this X11 pros: easy, single app cons: VERY slow, insecure prereqs: Xserver on your desktop listening on tcp port 6000+display number. X11+ssh pros: easyish, single app cons: slow (though my experience is faster than standard X11), reasonable amount of overhead on the wire prereqs: SSH server on host node. SSH client on desktop. Xserver on client node (tcp listening not necessary) VNC pros: easy, fast cons: full desktop, insecure prereqs: VNC server on host. VNC client on desktop. Able to hit TCP port 5900 (or whatever you're using) on host node, or initiate a listen on client and send it from host to client on port 5700 or whatever you're using (or was it 5800?). VNC+ssh pros: fast-ish cons: full desktop, tends to be laggy in my experience. more complex setup prereqs: SSH server on host node. VNC server on host node. SSH and VNC client software on desktop VNC+http pros: simple for desktop, insecure cons: full desktop, more server software, java client, somewhat complex setup prereqs: VNC server software that has http ability with the jar in question. Web browser with java on desktop NXserver I haven't used it Personally, I use SSH to get onto the commandline. If I need an app, I use the display tunnel to shoot it back to myself, and if I need a full desktop for some reason (to keep apps up, whatever), I bring up an X session in an xvfb and then shoot myself a VNC session over the ssh tunnel. Not secure, and requires a somewhat fast network, but it has the advantage of being incrementally complicated. On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 9:42 AM, Lisa Kachold wrote: > > > On Thu, Jan 20, 2011 at 3:37 PM, Matt Graham wrote: > >> From: gk >> [snip] >> > I'm wondering [if a GUI Emacs can] be backgrounded like Screen or >> > Tmux and then reattached if something needs to be done remotely. >> >> Sort of, but it's not great in most circumstances. If you can deal with >> having 2 X servers allow TCP, and compiling and running xmove, you can >> take an >> X app using the Display of one box, then move it to the Display of another >> box. The downside is that graphics performance slows to a crawl for just >> about everything, especially programs using GTK for some reason. >> >> Running a VNC server like TightVNC is a bit faster, and is better for many >> uses since you don't need X and all its baggage, just a VNC client, which >> is >> available for many platforms. It's still slower than I'd like, and you >> can >> get odd problems like keys getting stuckkkkkkk. >> >> The fastest remote-access GUI I've used across a slow link is NXServer and >> NXClient. This is not Free speech, but it's free beer. If you really >> need it >> to be fast and accessible from anywhere, though, screen plus your favorite >> console editor is still the best choice. >> >> Comments, suggestions, and flying attack porcupines welcome. >> > > Great post! > > I fully agree that VNC is vastly superior in speed alone to the full blown > X of our old Sun/Linux (Dot Com startup - dial up ISP administration) days, > with all it's snafus (ever had your X session highjackedby the Support staff (you managed)? No? I have..... [very funny you > guys])... > > However, our concept of speed cannot be considered without also, > considering, in a non-linear way, security? We assume that you architect > OSI security protection (VLAN exclusion or strict network switch port ACL > controls) since VNC password exchange can easily be snooped, > not to mention all command intercepted! > > X is incredibly insecure and network taxing, as well as limited. And SSH > with screen, with console editor is better, although still MITMable (and who limits SSH between servers and the support staff? > http://www.signedness.org/tools/ > > SSLStrip will take your local https back to text, not that you are using > webmin or anything ? > > But, yes, we like it fast, from our slow Cox Wifi connections, which cantrivially be brute forcedby our neighbor kids....hopefully they won't get a clue what all those root > Nix commands mean? > > >> -- >> >> Matt G / Dances With Crows >> The Crow202 Blog: http://crow202.org/wordpress/ >> There is no Darkness in Eternity/But only Light too dim for us to see >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss >> > > > > -- > > (503) 754-4452 > (623) 688-3392 > > http://www.obnosis.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.plug.phoenix.az.us > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.PLUG.phoenix.az.us/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > -- James McPhee jmcphe@gmail.com