Xming provides a free, minimalist yet functional X11 client for use in a Windows environment. This allows users to utilize graphical applications on a remote *nix workstation. Unfortunately recent versions of Xming are no longer freely available and an alternative, altough somewhat more complex to install, is Cygwin/X Windows X Server.
Download and run the current setup executable available Xming. You will see the following intro screen. Click Next to continue.
The default installation location is recommended. Click Next to continue.
The default installation components should be fine for most users. If you are using a non-US keyboard, make sure that option is checked. Click Next to continue.
The Start Menu folder is simply the name of the sub directory under which your Xming shortcuts will be located. The default value should be fine. Click Next.
Additional tasks include creating shortcuts in various locations to make the Xming server easier to access. The following option set is reasonable. XLaunch provides a graphical launcher with easy access to more advanced features of Xming. Most users will not need to use these advanced features and can leave the XLaunch options unchecked (the shortcuts will still exist in the Start Menu). Click Next to continue.
The installer will verify the settings. The one to be certain to verify is the destination location. Using any installation directory other than the default will make font installation and use slightly more complicated. Click Install to begin the installation.
The installer will now proceed with the installation, showing a window similar to the following.
Following a brief installation status screen, you should see the following dialog indicating successful installation of Xming. You are now equipped to view X11-based graphical applications remotely. Click Finish to exit the installer.
It is highly recommended to install the additional fonts packages available for Xming. The first - the “Xming-fonts” package - can be downloaded here. The installation process is identical to that above, with the exception of the “Select Components” phase. Simply make sure to select the “Full Installation” option as shown below.
Download and run the current setup executable available Xming-fonts.exe. You will see the following intro screen. Click Next.
For all the fonts packages, make sure the installation directory matches that of Xming itself (this should be “C:\Program Files\Xming” unless you changed this location in the Xming installation process)
NOTE: There may be an error alert that the installation already exists. If this happens, simply select “Yes”
The 75dpi and 100dpi fonts are also highly recommended, they can be downloaded and installed easily, making sure the installation directory matches that specified in the Xming install.
The Start Menu folder is simply the name of the sub directory under which your Xming shortcuts will be located. The default value should be fine. Click Next.
The installer will provide a summary of the configuration settings. Click Install to continue.
The installer will now proceed with the installation, showing a window similar to the following.
Following a brief installation status screen, you should see the following dialog indicating successful installation of Xming-fonts. Click Finish to exit the installer.
In order for the X server to register the new fonts, you must restart the X server.
In order to allow remote graphical applications executed via SSH to be redirected to your local machine, X11 forwarding must be enabled. The following procedure describes the steps needed to enable X11 forwarding:
Start your SSH client (i.e. putty).
Navigate the option configuration tree to find the X11 forwarding option:
Tick the “Enable X11 forwarding” option.
In order to save this as a default setting, navigate to the Session option.
Select “Default Settings”, followed by Save.
You should now be able to SSH to a remote machine and successfully start an X application, provided that the X server is running (check the right of the task bar for the “X” icon).
