Xnest
Encyclopedia
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
server that shows its output in a window
Window (computing)
In computing, a window is a visual area containing some kind of user interface. It usually has a rectangular shape that can overlap with the area of other windows...
. In other words, Xnest opens a window that works like another screen in which the user can open windows, etc.
At the protocol level, Xnest works like a client of the server hosting the window, and as a server with respect to the applications that opens windows within the Xnest session.
Xnest can be used to run a virtual desktop of another computer within a window. Xnest is also used for server debugging and for testing that applications work correctly at different screen sizes. Indeed, the user can choose the size of the Xnest window, which is also the size of the virtual screen it contains. This way, one can for example start an Xnest window with the size of the screen of a PDA
Personal digital assistant
A personal digital assistant , also known as a palmtop computer, or personal data assistant, is a mobile device that functions as a personal information manager. Current PDAs often have the ability to connect to the Internet...
to test whether an application works correctly on the screen of that device.
Opening a remote desktop
Xnest can be used to locally display the desktop of another computer.- Using XDMCP, Xnest can be used to run a virtual desktop of another computer within a window. This can be done for example by running
Xnest :10 -query other_computer_name. The remote machine must be configured to accept XDMCP incoming connections from the local machine.
- Alternatively, Xnest can be run on the remote machine while showing its window locally. Like any other X application, this can be done by telling the remote application that the display is a local X server (e.g., setting the DISPLAY environment variableEnvironment variableEnvironment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.They can be said in some sense to create the operating environment in which a process runs...
) and making the local X server accepting connections from remote applications (e.g., using xauth); both things are done using sshSecure ShellSecure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
, for example usingssh -X other_computer_nameto connect from the local to the remote machine. When the server is launched remotely (e.g.startx -- Xnest -geometry 800x600), since the display is forwarded back to the local machine, it will show the program window just like any other remotely launched application.
Furthermore, since Xnest behaves like a regular X server, remote applications can be launched so that they connect to a local Xnest.
See also
- XephyrXephyrIn computing, Xephyr is a KDrive-based X server which targets a window on a host X Server as its framebuffer.- Features :Unlike the similar Xnest, Xephyr supports modern X extensions such as composite, damage, randr, etc. It uses SHM images and shadow framebuffer updates to provide good...
- XvfbXvfbIn the X Window System, Xvfb or X virtual framebuffer is an X11 server that performs all graphical operations in memory, not showing any screen output. From the point of view of the client, it acts exactly like any other server, serving requests and sending events and errors as appropriate....
- XGGIXGGIXGGI is a partly accelerated X server which uses the General Graphics Interface and LibGGI to do hardware-independent graphics and input. It supports 8-, 15-, 16-, 24-, and 32-bit modes output to multiple monitors on any LibGGI target that has a pixellinear DirectBuffer, and should run in any...
- Virtual Network ComputingVirtual Network ComputingIn computing, Virtual Network Computing is a graphical desktop sharing system that uses the RFB protocol to remotely control another computer...
(VNC)