PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized" (Solved)

[mechanism]

I have OpenSSH on my Linux machine and I have connected to it from a Win XP machine using Putty. The only thing I can't get working is X11 forwarding. Under /etc/ssh/sshd_config I have "X11Forwarding = Yes". However, when I connect with Putty and type "startx" I get the following message:

mrmsu:~$ startx
hostname: Unknown host
xauth: creating new authority file /home/mrmsu/.serverauth.6102
X: user not authorized to run the X server, aborting.
xinit: Server error.
Couldn't get a file descriptor referring to the console

So, I assume I have something not set correctly. Any help in resolving this is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[mchuskie]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

I haven't tried running X11 forwarding through PuTTY, but I would expect you'd need X11 installed under Windows (which means Cygwin).

Ordinarily I wouldn't try and start an X server like that, either, but rather just the program I wanted to start. No idea if that's possible or not.

[Nate]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

http://x.cygwin.com/

[heinkel_111]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

Xming is a good alternative to cygwin.

Also, when trying to run X through ssh, remember that the command is

ssh -X myserveradress

(it is a CAPITAL X)

ssh -x

(is is a small x) explicitly disables X interface in the ssh session

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

Thanks for the link but I do have a question. If I'm running Putty from a Win XP machine, where would I type

ssh -x

? Please keep in mind that I'm not familiar with Putty so the answer may be quite obvious.

Thanks!

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

Ok...I got it working by using Xming. I'm able to get a shell window and type something like "firefox" and firefox will launch. However, I can not see my desktop. Is there a way to set this up where I can see my desktop. I typed "startx" and received all sorts of "user not authorized" mumbo jumbo. I do have X11 Forarding = yes in both the /etc/ssh/sshd_config and /etc/ssh/ssh_config files.

Thanks!

Mike

[heinkel_111]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

first, find the right place in puTTy's configuration menu to allow X. Then,try this in the puTTy TERMINAL window once ssh -X communication is established:

>kicker &

The "kicker" program should bring up a lot of the familiar KDE stuff.

EDIT: this post was edited because the information was inaccurate. Please refer to my later posts for details.

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

Will do. I'll give that a try when get back to the remote computer. Thanks!

Mike

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

try this in the puTTy window:

>ssh -X yourserveradress
>kicker

The "kicker" program should bring up a lot of the familiar KDE stuff.

Exactly which Putty windows were you referring to? Is it (1) the Putty interface that I see after I double click the icon on my Win XP desktop? or (2) The shell window that appears after I tell Putty to login (black window, shell)?

Thanks,

Mike

[heinkel_111]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

I am sorry for not pointing that out clearly. It is the shell window.

EDIT: the first command ssh -X yourserver is actually what you use the PuTTy interface window to configure. There is a menu choice somewhere to allow x (ie. the -X part). When the black shell window appears the ssh -X communication should already be established, so the only command you need to type in there should be

>kicker &

I recommend the ampersand because then you can still get nice error messages if something crashes and use your terminal winodw for something practical while still working in the KDE/X environment as well.

I am sorry I misinformed you slighly. I was actually confusing how to use puTTy with how to log in from a remote *nix computer a little. It is several months since I used this frequently(previous job, not this one). I hope my attempted alzheimer symptoms doesn't demotivate you as this little tool can be really helpful when you get it configured right.

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

Thank you for the follow up. No worries on the confusion as I operate in a state of confusion 24/7. I will try your suggestion tomorrow morning when I return to my work station at my office. I'll post back the results.

Again, thank you.

Mike

[heinkel_111]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

I have added a "notify" for this thread so I can maybe pick up your posts a little faster in the future.

[mechanism]

Re: PuTTY with X11 Forwarding - "User Not Authorized"

I just tried it and it works. I got the kicker panel at the bottom of my screen which let me choose programs from the K menu. Cool! It was slow but my upload speed from my home machine is not that fast anyway. This should do what I need to do. Thanks for your help!

Mike