Using your Windows box as an X terminal

[robkeeney]

So I have to develop on a *nix box through a Windows desktop PC. Plain terminal emulation is no fun (who wants to develop in vi?). Through the magic of open source, I don't have to and neither do you! Here are the simple steps to follow:

1. Install Cygwin including Cygwin/X - download the installer, make sure the xinit package is selected in the things to install, and hit go!
2. Install PuTTY and enable X forwarding in your session settings. PuTTY will automagically set your DISPLAY environment variable correctly.
3. Start your X server (Start -> Programs -> Cygwin/X -> XWin Server ) - you may want to copy this to your Startup group so it runs whenever you log in.
4. Use PuTTY to connect to your *nix box and fire up an X Windows program - remember to "amp it off".

Your X program should pop up on your desktop and look just like it's running locally - the beauty of X!