[Cowwie]

Hey guys,

Hopefully you can help with this. I am using SSH to connect to the Linux server at my University. I try to run a graphical program from the terminal window and I get an error message that says:

[1] 6888
eos% Error: Can't open display:

[1] Exit 1

Is there a way to fix this problem? It doesn't happen with Windows machines that use the Putty Emulator or on Linux terminals, so I was thinking my Mac was missing something. Thanks for your help.

[Turnpike]

I don't think Terminal by itself has the resources to do what you are asking of it (same with any other SSH front-end you may be using). X11 might be able to do it. Apple packages X11 with the OS now, I believe, on one of the "extra" CDs. It's also available as a free download from Apple's web site.

That said, I don't know if Apple's X11 can do this. I know very little of X11 in general, and less about the specific quirks that may be involved. In theory, the X Window System was built to be cross-platform for just the purposes you are highlighting. However, I don't know if Apple's particular take on this technology plays nice with remote clients.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help... perhaps somebody else will come along who will be

[Paul McCann]

Try setting your display *locally* (ie on your mac) using

setenv DISPLAY :0.0

(if you're using tcsh) or

export DISPLAY=:0.0

(if you're using bash or zsh). Then connect to the foreign machine using X forwarding:

ssh -X username@hostname

With any luck the graphical client app will display on your mac (obviously I'm assuming X11.app is up and running on your machine). If not you might have to go the less secure route. Reply if so and someone will doubtless specify ye olde worlde X11 commands.

Warning: graphically demanding X11 apps are dog-slow over anything other than a very fast network connection.

Cheers,
Paul

[Cowwie]

Sorry, I meant to say that I was using X11 to SSH, not 'Terminal' in the utilities folder.

[Cowwie]

Paul, that worked perfectly. Thanks a bunch to both of you for your help!

[Paul McCann]

You're more than welcome: good to hear things are up and running.

Paul