X-Win32:  running Linux X from Microsoft Windows  

We have X-Win32 set up properly in the Windows Lab (UW1-310) so that it will run Linux GUIs (gnome-session, startkde, matlab) from the Windows computers.  It is definitely worth a try!

If you want to run this same program from home, you can purchase an X-Win32 license from Starnet:
http://www.starnet.com/products/xwin32/download.php
This program is not freely available from UW.  For a free alternative see xming.html

To try it out in our Windows Lab, go to UW1-310 and login to a Windows computer with your regular login.  Then start X-Win32.




Notice the "X" icon in the system tray.




To start a session, right-click the X to bring up its menu, select My Sessions->Linux Lab xterm




Enter your login name in the pop-up login window.




As the session starts loading, you will be asked for your password.  Enter it.
Also check the checkbox to remember your password for this session.
Your password will be kept until you Exit from the X icon in the system tray.




When the loading has completed, you will see an xterm - a Linux terminal window.




You can type commands here, or you can open a GUI and use it as if you were sitting at a Linux console.
If you end your command with an ampersand "&" it will make logging out smoother.
To open XWindows, you can type either "gnome-session &" (recommended) or "startkde &".
Or to open Matlab, type "matlab &".




The interface is good but not perfect.  To access the top or bottom panels, you will need to single-click on the buttons in the bottom Windows taskbar.  Then those panels will appear in their usual places.




When you are ready to exit,
  • Exit properly from any programs or utilities you are running inside Linux
  • If you used the ampersand "&", logout of the gnome-session by selecting System->Logout from the top panel.
  • Exit from the xterm.



  • In Windows, use the system tray icon and select "Exit"






Linux help is available through linhelp@uwb.edu and

The uwb_linux email list:
https://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/uwb_linux
created:   May 13, 2008
updated:   May 31, 2008