Difference between revisions of "Xpra"
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Install the package {{AUR|xpra-winswitch}} from the [[AUR]], in the server and client(s) machines. | Install the package {{AUR|xpra-winswitch}} from the [[AUR]], in the server and client(s) machines. | ||
− | {{Tip| | + | {{Tip|1=If you intend to run Xpra locally under a existing Xorg session with graphic drivers such as {{ic|<nowiki>nvidia</nowiki>}} or {{ic|<nowiki>ATi</nowiki>}} you will need to modify the default xpra config. Xpra fetches {{ic|-configdir}} from {{ic|xorg-server-xvfb}} which will be {{ic|/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d}}, there for you need to change this by following the three bottom steps of [https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?pid=1333056#p1333056 1333056#p1333056] in order to run xpra locally.}} |
==Use== | ==Use== |
Revision as of 10:25, 4 October 2013
From the Xpra website:
Xpra is 'screen for X': it allows you to run X programs, usually on a remote host, direct their display to your local machine, and then to disconnect from these programs and reconnect from the same or another machine, without losing any state. It gives you remote access to individual applications.
- Xpra is "rootless" or "seamless": programs you run under it show up on your desktop as regular programs, managed by your regular window manager.
- Sessions can be accessed over SSH, or password protected over plain TCP sockets.
- Xpra is usable over reasonably slow links and does its best to adapt to changing network bandwidth limits. (see also adaptive JPEG mode)
- Xpra is open-source (GPLv2+), multi-platform and multi-language, with current clients written in Python and Java.
Contents
Installation
Install the package xpra-winswitchAUR from the AUR, in the server and client(s) machines.
nvidia
or ATi
you will need to modify the default xpra config. Xpra fetches -configdir
from xorg-server-xvfb
which will be /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
, there for you need to change this by following the three bottom steps of 1333056#p1333056 in order to run xpra locally.Use
Start an xpra server on the machine where you want to run the applications (we are using display number 7 here):
$ xpra start :7
Now you can start an application, e.g. firefox:
$ DISPLAY=:7 firefox
Or, if you want to start a screen session and execute the programs from there to be able to close the console:
$ DISPLAY=:7 screen [screen starts] $ firefox
Note that if you start screen
like this you don't have to specify the display number when executing programs. They will be running on the xpra display automatically.
After running these commands, you don't see any windows yet. To actually see the applications on your display, you have to connect to the xpra server. If you are connecting to an xpra display on the same machine, start the xpra client like this:
$ xpra attach :7
Or, if you are connecting to a remote machine over ssh:
$ xpra attach ssh:user@example.com:7
After starting the client, any programs running on the remote server display are displayed on your local screen. To detach, type ctrl-c
or use the command:
$ xpra detach ssh:user@example.com:7
Programs continue to run on the server and you can reattach again later.
You can stop the server with:
$ xpra stop :7
on the machine where the server is running, or remotely:
$ xpra stop ssh:user@example.com:7
For a complete manual, check man xpra
.
Tips and tricks
Start at boot
Server
It is possible to start the xpra server at boot using a systemd unit.
Create the unit file:
/etc/systemd/system/xpra@.service
[Unit] Description=xpra display [Service] Type=simple User=%i EnvironmentFile=/etc/conf.d/xpra ExecStart=/usr/bin/xpra --no-daemon start ${%i} [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target
Now create the configuration, adding a line for each username you want to have an xpra display:
/etc/conf.d/xpra
myusername=:7
Enable the service for each username that owns a display. In this example, the service would be xpra@myusername.service
.
Client
Method 1: .xinitrc
Add to your ~/.xinitrc
file the line necessary to start the connection, adding an & at the end of the line.
Make sure to add such line before the exec
line.
For example, on a remote client it could be:
~/.xinitrc
xpra attach ssh:user@example.com:7 &
Method 2: systemd user session
Configure your session to use systemd user session. Read Systemd/User for details.
Create the following service unit:
$HOME/.config/systemd/user/xpra-client@.service
[Unit] Description=xpra client [Service] Type=simple EnvironmentFile=%h/.config/conf/xpra_client ExecStart=/usr/bin/xpra attach %i $OPTS [Install] WantedBy=default.target
Create the configuration file, using the options you want:
$HOME/.config/conf/xpra_client
OPTS=--encoding=jpeg --quality=90
The service name would be in the format of xpra-client@ssh:username@hostname:<display number>.service
.
Example:
xpra-client@ssh:myuser@example.com:7.service
Enable that service, and remember to use the --user
flag on systemctl
.