Department of Engineering

IT Services

X-Win32 Configuration

A full manual for Xwin32 can be downloaded from Starnet

  • Configuring Xwin32 to use Engineering department machines
    1. Use XDMCP.
    2. Under X-Config - Sessions - Manual
    3. Connect Method - XDMCP
    4. Session Name - x-access
    5. XDMCP Mode - Query
    6. Host name - x-access.eng.cam.ac.uk
    7. This should make a connection to our machine gate when used.
    8. Under X-Config - Window tick Multiple.
    9. Under X-Config - Font - Add Font Server - Host - font-serv.eng.cam.ac.uk (This will give access to fonts not in the default Xwin list)
    10. NOTE - Font Server is not available for users outside the Department.

IMPORTANT - SECURITY FIX

Under X-Config - Security - add the name of your computer. If you have nothing there, then your machine is vulnerable to snooping from elsewhere and becomes a security risk.

  • Running X-Win from outside the Department
    1. You will need the program Putty
    2. Start Xwin
    3. Start Putty.
    4. Click SSH
    5. Click Tunnels on left hand menu.
    6. Click Local Ports accept connections from other hosts
    7. Click X11
    8. Click Enable X11 forwarding
    9. Under Xdisplay Location :-
    10. localhost
    11. Click Session on left hand menu
    12. Under host name put :-
    13. gate.eng.cam.ac.uk
    14. Click ssh
    15. Click Open
    16. Login in to gate
    17. Type xterm &
    18. an xterm should appear on the Xwin screen.