Tech Kraft

Documentum, AWS, Java, Ruby on Rails, Linux, Windows, App Servers

Linux: Can’t open display for xterm

When using xterm, if you are not able to see the display show up on your screen, or you get an error, try setting your display.

Find the ip of your local windows desktop using the following command:

C:\>ipconfig


Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection 6:

   Connection-specific DNS Suffix  . : dev.company.gov
   IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 1xx.xx.93.63
   Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.254.0
   Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 1xx.xx.92.1

C:\>

The information given in the IPv4 Address is your ip. Now you can set the display on the linux box using this command:

export DISPLAY=1xx.xx.93.63:0.0

Some common reasons for xterm not starting:

  • When connecting to the server using putty, check if”Enable X11 Forwarding” checkbox is checked under Connection –> SSH –> X11

PuttyX11Setting

  • Make sure Exceed is running
  • If that still doesn’t work, check  your bash_rc. One time we had the bash_rc setting the DISPLAY to 0, which was causing the xterm to not work. Once we commented out that line and started again, xterm worked.

 

 

chanakya2's avatar

Posted by:

chanakya2

Leave a comment

About Me

Senior Software Engineer professional with over 16 years of success with multiple open source technologies and various Content Management platforms and solutions.

Proven technical abilities through numerous projects involving enterprise web application design and development, application installation, configuration and support, and workflow and collaboration system designs.

  • Ability to learn new technologies and platforms quickly and apply them to the task at hand.
  • Excellent analytical skills, and strong communication and collaboration abilities.
  • Technical emphasis in including but not limited to Java, Ruby on Rails, Documentum and Alfresco
    in both Linux and Windows based environments

Recent Posts

Newsletter