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Hi,

I have a Linode running arch linux. I am new to both Linode and Arch Linux. I would like to open a window to view a document on my Linode.

I am connected to linode via ssh -X (X forwarding enabled). When I try:

eog myphoto.jpg

I get the error: "Cannot open display:".

The same happens when I try:

xpdf mydocumnet.pdf

Can someone tell me how I can open a window?

6 Replies

Are you running linux locally with an X server that allows remote windows to be opened?

I am using a mac which has X11. I think it allows remote windows to be opened because I can connect to the linux machines at work via ssh and view documents there (then again I have no idea how they are set up - they may be running their own X server). How do I check that the X server allows remote windows to be opened?

I have checked that /etc/ssh/sshd_config on linode has X11 forwarding enabled.

Try sshing in with increased verbosity: ssh -vvv

That usually contains some helpful clues. If you paste the output here I or someone else may be able to help you.

Here is the output of ssh -Xvvv from my ubuntu machine. Does it tell you anything?

rnandi@salamander:~$ ssh -Xvvv robin@109.74.200.145

OpenSSH_5.8p1 Debian-7ubuntu1, OpenSSL 1.0.0e 6 Sep 2011

debug1: Reading configuration data /etc/ssh/ssh_config

debug1: Applying options for *

debug2: ssh_connect: needpriv 0

debug1: Connecting to 109.74.200.145 [109.74.200.145] port 22.

debug1: Connection established.

debug3: Incorrect RSA1 identifier

debug3: Could not load "/home/rnandi/.ssh/id_rsa" as a RSA1 public key

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type '–---BEGIN'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type 'Proc-Type:'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type 'DEK-Info:'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type '-----END'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_rsa type 1

debug1: Checking blacklist file /usr/share/ssh/blacklist.RSA-2048

debug1: Checking blacklist file /etc/ssh/blacklist.RSA-2048

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_rsa-cert type -1

debug3: Incorrect RSA1 identifier

debug3: Could not load "/home/rnandi/.ssh/id_dsa" as a RSA1 public key

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type '-----BEGIN'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug3: key_read: missing whitespace

debug2: keytypefrom_name: unknown key type '-----END'

debug3: key_read: missing keytype

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_dsa type 2

debug1: Checking blacklist file /usr/share/ssh/blacklist.DSA-1024

debug1: Checking blacklist file /etc/ssh/blacklist.DSA-1024

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_dsa-cert type -1

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_ecdsa type -1

debug1: identity file /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_ecdsa-cert type -1

debug1: Remote protocol version 2.0, remote software version OpenSSH_5.9

debug1: match: OpenSSH_5.9 pat OpenSSH*

debug1: Enabling compatibility mode for protocol 2.0

debug1: Local version string SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.8p1 Debian-7ubuntu1

debug2: fd 3 setting O_NONBLOCK

debug3: loadhostkeys: loading entries for host "109.74.200.145" from file "/home/rnandi/.ssh/knownhosts"

debug3: loadhostkeys: found key type RSA in file /home/rnandi/.ssh/knownhosts:8

debug3: load_hostkeys: loaded 1 keys

debug3: order_hostkeyalgs: prefer hostkeyalgs: ssh-rsa-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-rsa-cert-v00@openssh.com,ssh-rsa

debug1: SSH2MSGKEXINIT sent

debug1: SSH2MSGKEXINIT received

debug2: kexparsekexinit: ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1

debug2: kexparsekexinit: ssh-rsa-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-rsa-cert-v00@openssh.com,ssh-rsa,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384-cert-v01@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-dss-cert-v01@openssh.com,ssh-dss-cert-v00@openssh.com,ecdsa-sha2-nistp256,ecdsa-sha2-nistp384,ecdsa-sha2-nistp521,ssh-dss

debug2: kexparsekexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,rijndael-cbc@lysator.liu.se

debug2: kexparsekexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,rijndael-cbc@lysator.liu.se

debug2: kexparsekexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,umac-64@openssh.com,hmac-ripemd160,hmac-ripemd160@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96

debug2: kexparsekexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,umac-64@openssh.com,hmac-ripemd160,hmac-ripemd160@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96

debug2: kexparsekexinit: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib

debug2: kexparsekexinit: none,zlib@openssh.com,zlib

debug2: kexparsekexinit:

debug2: kexparsekexinit:

debug2: kexparsekexinit: firstkexfollows 0

debug2: kexparsekexinit: reserved 0

debug2: kexparsekexinit: ecdh-sha2-nistp256,ecdh-sha2-nistp384,ecdh-sha2-nistp521,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha256,diffie-hellman-group-exchange-sha1,diffie-hellman-group14-sha1,diffie-hellman-group1-sha1

debug2: kexparsekexinit: ssh-rsa,ssh-dss

debug2: kexparsekexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,rijndael-cbc@lysator.liu.se

debug2: kexparsekexinit: aes128-ctr,aes192-ctr,aes256-ctr,arcfour256,arcfour128,aes128-cbc,3des-cbc,blowfish-cbc,cast128-cbc,aes192-cbc,aes256-cbc,arcfour,rijndael-cbc@lysator.liu.se

debug2: kexparsekexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,umac-64@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-256-96,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-512-96,hmac-ripemd160,hmac-ripemd160@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96

debug2: kexparsekexinit: hmac-md5,hmac-sha1,umac-64@openssh.com,hmac-sha2-256,hmac-sha2-256-96,hmac-sha2-512,hmac-sha2-512-96,hmac-ripemd160,hmac-ripemd160@openssh.com,hmac-sha1-96,hmac-md5-96

debug2: kexparsekexinit: none,zlib@openssh.com

debug2: kexparsekexinit: none,zlib@openssh.com

debug2: kexparsekexinit:

debug2: kexparsekexinit:

debug2: kexparsekexinit: firstkexfollows 0

debug2: kexparsekexinit: reserved 0

debug2: mac_setup: found hmac-md5

debug1: kex: server->client aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none

debug2: mac_setup: found hmac-md5

debug1: kex: client->server aes128-ctr hmac-md5 none

debug1: sending SSH2MSGKEXECDHINIT

debug1: expecting SSH2MSGKEXECDHREPLY

debug1: Server host key: RSA d5:24:4c:8a:33:d2:4f:0e:5b:14:b8:00:52:56:87:1b

debug3: loadhostkeys: loading entries for host "109.74.200.145" from file "/home/rnandi/.ssh/knownhosts"

debug3: loadhostkeys: found key type RSA in file /home/rnandi/.ssh/knownhosts:8

debug3: load_hostkeys: loaded 1 keys

debug1: Host '109.74.200.145' is known and matches the RSA host key.

debug1: Found key in /home/rnandi/.ssh/known_hosts:8

debug1: sshrsaverify: signature correct

debug2: kexderivekeys

debug2: set_newkeys: mode 1

debug1: SSH2MSGNEWKEYS sent

debug1: expecting SSH2MSGNEWKEYS

debug2: set_newkeys: mode 0

debug1: SSH2MSGNEWKEYS received

debug1: Roaming not allowed by server

debug1: SSH2MSGSERVICE_REQUEST sent

debug2: service_accept: ssh-userauth

debug1: SSH2MSGSERVICE_ACCEPT received

debug2: key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_rsa (0xb9474e48)

debug2: key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_dsa (0xb947bc90)

debug2: key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_ecdsa ((nil))

debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password

debug3: start over, passed a different list publickey,password

debug3: preferred gssapi-keyex,gssapi-with-mic,publickey,keyboard-interactive,password

debug3: authmethod_lookup publickey

debug3: remaining preferred: keyboard-interactive,password

debug3: authmethodisenabled publickey

debug1: Next authentication method: publickey

debug1: Offering RSA public key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_rsa

debug3: sendpubkeytest

debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply

debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password

debug1: Offering DSA public key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_dsa

debug3: sendpubkeytest

debug2: we sent a publickey packet, wait for reply

debug1: Authentications that can continue: publickey,password

debug1: Trying private key: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_ecdsa

debug3: no such identity: /home/rnandi/.ssh/id_ecdsa

debug2: we did not send a packet, disable method

debug3: authmethod_lookup password

debug3: remaining preferred: ,password

debug3: authmethodisenabled password

debug1: Next authentication method: password

robin@109.74.200.145's password:

debug3: packetsend2: adding 64 (len 59 padlen 5 extrapad 64)

debug2: we sent a password packet, wait for reply

debug1: Authentication succeeded (password).

Authenticated to 109.74.200.145 ([109.74.200.145]:22).

debug1: channel 0: new [client-session]

debug3: sshsession2open: channel_new: 0

debug2: channel 0: send open

debug1: Requesting no-more-sessions@openssh.com

debug1: Entering interactive session.

debug2: callback start

debug2: x11getproto: /usr/bin/xauth list :0 2>/dev/null

debug1: Requesting X11 forwarding with authentication spoofing.

debug2: channel 0: request x11-req confirm 0

debug2: clientsession2setup: id 0

debug2: fd 3 setting TCP_NODELAY

debug3: packetsettos: set IP_TOS 0x10

debug2: channel 0: request pty-req confirm 1

debug1: Sending environment.

debug3: Ignored env MANPATH

debug3: Ignored env SSHAGENTPID

debug3: Ignored env GPGAGENTINFO

debug3: Ignored env TERM

debug3: Ignored env SHELL

debug3: Ignored env XDGSESSIONCOOKIE

debug3: Ignored env LHAPATH

debug3: Ignored env WINDOWID

debug3: Ignored env GNOMEKEYRINGCONTROL

debug3: Ignored env GTK_MODULES

debug3: Ignored env USER

debug3: Ignored env LDLIBRARYPATH

debug3: Ignored env LS_COLORS

debug3: Ignored env XDGSESSIONPATH

debug3: Ignored env XDGSEATPATH

debug3: Ignored env SSHAUTHSOCK

debug3: Ignored env LIBPATH

debug3: Ignored env SESSION_MANAGER

debug3: Ignored env USERNAME

debug3: Ignored env DEFAULTS_PATH

debug3: Ignored env XDGCONFIGDIRS

debug3: Ignored env PATH

debug3: Ignored env DESKTOP_SESSION

debug3: Ignored env PWD

debug3: Ignored env GNOMEKEYRINGPID

debug1: Sending env LANG = en_US.UTF-8

debug2: channel 0: request env confirm 0

debug3: Ignored env MANDATORY_PATH

debug3: Ignored env UBUNTU_MENUPROXY

debug3: Ignored env COMPIZCONFIGPROFILE

debug3: Ignored env GDMSESSION

debug3: Ignored env ROOTSYS

debug3: Ignored env SHLVL

debug3: Ignored env HOME

debug3: Ignored env GNOMEDESKTOPSESSION_ID

debug3: Ignored env DYLDLIBRARYPATH

debug3: Ignored env IBUSENABLESYNC_MODE

debug3: Ignored env PYTHONPATH

debug3: Ignored env LOGNAME

debug3: Ignored env XDGDATADIRS

debug3: Ignored env DBUSSESSIONBUS_ADDRESS

debug3: Ignored env LESSOPEN

debug3: Ignored env SHLIB_PATH

debug3: Ignored env DISPLAY

debug3: Ignored env GENIE

debug3: Ignored env XDGCURRENTDESKTOP

debug3: Ignored env LESSCLOSE

debug3: Ignored env COLORTERM

debug3: Ignored env XAUTHORITY

debug3: Ignored env _

debug2: channel 0: request shell confirm 1

debug2: callback done

debug2: channel 0: open confirm rwindow 0 rmax 32768

debug2: channelinputstatus_confirm: type 99 id 0

debug2: PTY allocation request accepted on channel 0

debug2: channel 0: rcvd adjust 2097152

debug2: channelinputstatus_confirm: type 99 id 0

debug2: shell request accepted on channel 0

Last login: Tue Apr 17 04:19:56 2012 from 78-86-30-63.zone2.bethere.co.uk

[robin@li147-145 ~]$

Oh, how I hate it when dozens of lines of debug output have nothing useful in them ;-)

Try sshing with -vvv again and running xpdf/eog. ssh will output additional debug information when you try to initiate an X connection.

Also, before running xpdf/eog run:

echo $DISPLAY
which xauth

I'm curious what that says.

Thanks, AGWA.

If I run xpdf/eog when logged in with ssh -vvv, I get the same response with no extra debug information:

"Cannot open display:"

echo $DISPLAY

gives nothing

which xauth

gives:

/usr/bin/xauth

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