Xmanager Tutorial
XDMCP connection through SSH tunneling
Last modified: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 12:09 AM
Since Xmanager is an X server, the remote X applications such as CDE, KDE and Gnome must be able to connect back to your PC. This makes it difficult to use XDMCP connection if your PC is in a private network. However, you can still run your remote desktop session through SSH tunnel. There are two steps:
After setting the value, restart SSH daemon.
Now, you are ready to create a secure SSH tunnel for XDMCP connection. Open the session and go to the next step in Xbrowser.
Note: Before you start, please make sure the SSH server on the remote host has X11Forwarding enabled.
Setup the configuration file in the following table.
| SSH server | Config file | Setup |
| OpenSSH | /etc/ssh/sshd_config | X11Forwarding yes |
| SSH.COM | /etc/ssh2/sshd2_config | AllowX11Forwarding yes |
After setting the value, restart SSH daemon.
1. Creating an SSH tunnel in Xshell
- Open Xshell.
Note: For more information about Xshell, please refer to our Xshell product page. - If the Sessions dialog box does not automatically opens up, click Open on the Flie menu.
- In the Sessions dialog box, right click on the session that connects to your remote host, and then click Properties.
Note: If you do not know how to create a session, please refer to Creating a session in Xshell.
- In the Category menu, Click Tunneling.

- In the TCP/IP Forwarding section, click Add.
RESULT: Forwarding Rule dialog box opens.
- In the Type list, select Incoming (from remote to local).
- For Source Host, enter the "localhost".
- In the Listen Port field, enter "6020".
Note: You can choose any number that is not in use. - In the Destination Host field, enter "localhost".
- In the Destination Port field, enter "6020".
Note: To get the Xamanger display number, subtract 6000 from the Destination Port number. In this example, the local display number is 20. We recommend using a number between 6020 and 6255. - Click OK to save the changes.
Now, you are ready to create a secure SSH tunnel for XDMCP connection. Open the session and go to the next step in Xbrowser.
2. Creating an XDMCP session that uses SSH tunnel
- Open Xbrowser.
- In the Tools menu, click Options.
RESULT: Options dialog box opens.
- In the New Address, enter the IP address of the remote host, and then click Add.
- Click OK to save the change. Now you should see a dynamic session icon of the remote host on Xbrowser.

- Right click on the remote host icon.
- In the context menu, click Save As.

- Right click on the new session and click Properties.
RESULT: Properties dialog box opens.
- In the Proxy section, select Use following connection address.
- In the Host box, enter "0.0.0.0".
- in the Port Number box, enter "6020".
Note: If you did not use 6020 for the Listening Port as above 1. Creating an SSH tunnel in Xshell, use the number you have used instead. - Click the X Server tab.

- Clear Allocate display number automatically.
- In the Display Number box, enter "20".
Note: If you did not use 6020 for the Destination Port as above 1. Creating an SSH tunnel in Xshell, use the last 3 digits of that number. For example, enter 230 if you used 6230 for the Destination Port. - Click OK to save the change.
- Double click on the session you have just created.