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Asked: 2010-04-30 08:34:40 +0800 CST

X11 from ssh on Mac OSX to Linux server doesn't work --- Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display

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I installed a program wireshark on my remote linux box and I'm trying to run it with X11 from my mac computer using SSH. Here's my terminal...

macosx$ echo $DISPLAY
/tmp/launch-f4w6k6/:0

macosx$ ssh -X [email protected]
[email protected]'s password: 

remoteubuntu:~# echo $DISPLAY

remoteubuntu:~# wireshark

(wireshark:18927): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

Here's a few lines from /etc/ssh/sshd_config 

X11Forwarding yes
X11DisplayOffset 10
PrintMotd no
PrintLastLog yes
TCPKeepAlive yes
#UseLogin no

Thanks for the help!

linux mac-osx gtk x11 x11forwarding

5 Answers

  1. X11 is not installed in MacOS X Lion. MacOS X Lion users have to install XQuartz for ssh -X or -Y to work.

    For reference: About X11 and OS X Mountain Lion

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  2. Best Answer

    Try the -Y option for X11 forwarding instead it disables some X11 security checks and tends to work better from OSX.

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  3. You don't have an X server running on your local system. Don't use Terminal.app(the one with a black icon) to start your SSH session; instead, use X11.app(the one with a white icon). On my system, it's in /Applications/Utilities/X11.app.

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  4. Xnest -geometry 1024x768 :1& DISPLAY=:1 ssh -Y ipoftheserver gnome-session work well !

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  5. Another important thing: if you install xquartz via homebrew, you should relogin your macos or reboot.

    As the rackpas's answer saying.

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