BSD equivalent to Win Terminal server?

Remote FreeBSD sessions from a desktop?

[Global Wayne]

I have dabbled in FreeBSD and Macs for many years as a lowly user. The only aspect of the whole Windows platform that is handy is Terminal server. This is great if you are checking out network responses or publishing web sites remotely from a foreign country as you have complete access to a browser etc..

Is there a *nix equivalent for FreeBSD to Terminal server that can be run from root level of a server?

Any help appreciated!

/Wayne

[martin]

You can use ssh, and with X forwarding enabled you should be able to use a X client on your local machine that talks to the X server on the FreeBSD box.

[kenta]

If you're interested in X forwarding.. it's cool.. until you have a machine that doesn't support X out of the box (Windows).

Might want to check out: [jcraft.com ]

Basically a web-based X client that uses the ssh program mindterm. Set that up on your server and when in a pinch, you can just launch it from a Windows based machine (must have browser/w java support). Go to your URL (i.e. [yoursite.com...] and it starts you off with a basic ssh session. After signing in you can just type in the name of the program you want (mozilla, evolution, etc) and it will open them in in new windows. Pretty slick.

Might want to have a decent connection though. I've tried to run this on slower connections and have had to wait a while for any of my windows to appear.

Maybe you might also be interested in using VNC?

[SeanW]

Your best bet is VNC: [realvnc.com...]

In UNIX, it runs as an X server, meaning you get your whole window manager, and if you disconnect the session stays active (similar to terminal services). It's more efficient (I've found) than running X sessions remotely

Do be careful, though, since the only authentication is a simple password sent over cleartext. It is possible for people to bang away on the password without your knowledge. One way to get around it is to only allow connections from localhost, then use SSH and port forwarding to connect over the SSH tunnel.

Sean

[Global Wayne]

Thanks for the pointers folks - apreciated!

/Wayne