Using graphical software on Linux systems from Windows systems

If you would like to run the GUI of a Linux application on a Windows machine, the combination of Xwin32 and PuTTY can be very useful.   The basic idea is that PuTTY creates an encrypted tunnel to the linux machine and Xwin32 allows the graphical interface to be displayed.

Configure PuTTY:

1. Add the hostname of the ECE cluster machine you want to use
2. Switch ‘Protocol’ to SSH
3. Type name of session in saved sessions, pick anything you like
4. Click ‘Save’
5. Connection > SSH > Tunnels
6. Check ‘Enable X11 Forwarding’
7. Go back to ‘Session’ and save

Configure XWin-32:

1. Start XWin-32
2. Click ‘Security’ tab
3. Click ‘Add…’
4. Enter ‘localhost’ without quotes and click ‘OK’

Connect:

1. Start XWin32
2. Start Putty
3. Double click on the saved session you want