RE: [school-discuss] Remote GUI access (was Re: Emulation via Windows)

["Jimmy Pierre" <jpierre@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings,

Thanks a million to all for replying to my posting. I spent the last 24
hours testing your solutions and as I ma not a Linux GURU, I settled for
Xming.

The server is on line cisware.tzo.com and the username : student and the
password: student123

Please give it a try and let me know if how it goes... I might need to open
some ports on the firewall...

Cheers
Jimmy

-----Original Message-----
From: Karsten M. Self [mailto:kmself@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 7:34 AM
To: schoolforge-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [school-discuss] Remote GUI access (was Re: Emulation via Windows)

on Mon, May 30, 2005 at 11:55:56AM +0200, Jimmy Pierre (jpierre@xxxxxxxxxxx)
wrote:
>  <http://www.cisware.com>
>
> Has anybody got any experience on running some sort of Terminal Server
> on a linux box and connect via a Windows Box?

FYI, that's generally referred to as "remote access" rather than
"emulation".

Several options, the main factors are server load and users supported
(dozens to ~100 clients under X, for light loads, vs. a dozen or so VNC
clients), and security -- few of these methods offer integrated security,
and may not be suitable for open networks as passwords and other data are
transmitted "in the clear".  Securing the systems via SSH tunnels or systems
such as FreeSWAN are possible, but require additional effort.

   - X server.  Install an X server on the legacy MS Windows box.  You
     then connect to a GNU/Linux system for applications.  Using XDMCP
     (X display manager control protocol) will provide the user with a
     user/pass login.  This is probably your best bet and the most
     widely used solution.

     Advantages:  simple, low cost, fast, low server load, many users
         per server (20-40+).
     Disadvantages:  unsecured, not appropriate for open / unswitched
         networks.  May be tunneled over SSH for security.

  
   - VNC  Users run VNC client on desktop, connect to VNC server.
     Running servers out of inetd / xinetd allows for automated
     connections (but no session persistance).

     Advantages:  minimal client software.
     Disadvantages:  heavier server load, slower than X, unsecured,
         fewer clients / server than X.  May be tunneled over SSH for
         security.

   - NoMachines "NX".  Haven't used it, though it's supposed to be
     faster/lighter than VNC, and offers built-in security.


I'd recommend trying  the X server solution first.  There are several free X
servers available for legacy MS Windows, of which the XMing server is free,
fast, and can be run from CD.

    http://freedesktop.org/Xming

For run-from-CD, I found that copying the Xming directory tree to a CD and
launching 'xlaunch' from the CD a no-install X server is possible.
Neat as a demo.



Peace.

--
Karsten M. Self <kmself@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>        http://kmself.home.netcom.com/
 What Part of "Gestalt" don't you understand?
    So it is down to you, and it is down to me. If you wish her dead, by
    all means, keep moving forward.
    - Princess Bride