blog-like pattern a recognizable configuration of chaos

some friends of mine at work were trying to setup a GUI style desktop session on a remote network machine. beyond saving trips to the data center, its infinitely useful for running certain tools or visualizing data remotely. i had done it a bit before so was able to hook them up with this:

the setup:
  server: centos 5
  client: ubuntu gutsy 7.10 (then eventually XP)

the server:

  sudo yum groupinstall "KDE (K Desktop Environment)"
  sudo yum install firefox

check that X11 forwarding is enabled in /etc/ssh/sshd_config and restart sshd if necessary, or just do what most of us do and bounce the server.

the client:
i didn't have to configure anything with gutsy, it worked with the following commands. note that -X enables forwarding and encryption of the X session data on port 22. this makes it great for skirting corporate firewalls, like when you desperately need get your bebo on, but can't because newscorp's corporate office heinously blocks it at the gateway.

i recommend it to sneak sexy packets across the enemy lines of an oppressive regime.

ssh -X username@server_url.com 'firefox'

or your individual X app

ssh -v -X ... 

is useful for troubleshooting (-v for verbose)

or use the mighty

ssh -X username@server_url.com 'startkde'

if you want to fire up a full fledged kde session on the server. which, granted, is a bit much, but you could also install gnome. or a lighter-weight X window manager, of which there are many. annoying people who used linux in the early 90s usually have no preference on this one. while personally i recon i run 'bout 8-12 virtualized xfce pow'r'd debians on a xen server with 4 gigs.

  "dude, you should install ice wm. its really fast and awesome. ice wm 4 eva, man!"

if you have to be all difficult and work with windows, enable ssh forwarding with PuTTy and install an X server like XMing or similar. dece' guide here.