ssh with X11 for remote access?

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dhdurgee
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ssh with X11 for remote access?

Post by dhdurgee »

I am going out of town for a few weeks and considering setting things up to allow me to use ssh for remote access to my desktop system. I have configured my router to map an unsusal port to port 22 on my desktop system, so this should not be a major open door for attack. My question is more related to how I can use this access.

I know that I can start an X program from the ssh terminal window, I am just wondering how far this is safe to go. Assuming that I log out of my desktop system before I leave, would it be safe to start cinnamon from the ssh terminal window? I know I can start individual applications, I am wondering if it is safe to use a desktop manager via ssh with X. My concerns in part are performance and in part security and stability. Will this work acceptably with a reasonable internet connection? Will cinnamon shut down properly when I exit? How would I properly exit it? What about a dropped connection for some reason?

I guess VNC or desktop sharing would be another approach, but I am wondering about how to keep such a connection secure.

Dave
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phd21
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Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:42 pm
Location: Florida

Re: ssh with X11 for remote access?

Post by phd21 »

Hi dhdurgee,

It would help to know more about your system setup. If you run "inxi -Fxzd" and "lsusb" from the console terminal prompt, highlight the results, copy and paste them back here, that should provide enough information.

It would be safer to use a different port for SSH, but the default port 22 would certainly work. Even though you can run the remote host's entire desktop through ssh, it would take more resources than running any applications separately.

Previous post - Connect to Mint 18.3 remote desktop - Linux Mint Forums
viewtopic.php?f=90&t=266128&hilit=openssh

You can easily install "openSSH" from the Software Manager or Synaptic Package Manager (SPM), search for and install "ssh", or the console terminal command line:

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install ssh
SSH: An Easier-Than-You-Thought Tutorial
http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/201102/page18.html

Setting Up a Home Network with Linux Mint
https://www.maketecheasier.com/setting- ... inux-mint/

5 SSH Hardening Tips
https://www.linux.com/learn/5-ssh-hardening-tips

How to Configure Custom SSH Connections to Simplify Remote Access
http://www.tecmint.com/configure-custom ... s+Guide%29

Top 20 OpenSSH Server Best Security Practices
https://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-un ... tices.html

Hope this helps ...
Phd21: Mint 20 Cinnamon & xKDE (Mint Xfce + Kubuntu KDE) & KDE Neon 64-bit (new based on Ubuntu 20.04) Awesome OS's, Dell Inspiron I5 7000 (7573) 2 in 1 touch screen, Dell OptiPlex 780 Core2Duo E8400 3GHz,4gb Ram, Intel 4 Graphics.
dhdurgee
Level 4
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Posts: 433
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:56 pm

Re: ssh with X11 for remote access?

Post by dhdurgee »

Thank you for your pointers to further securing ssh for remote system access. I have configured to use a shared public key and disabled password access to the desktop system. I am leaving it configured using port 22, but my router maps port 5522 to that port for remote access.

I guess I will find out if the specific X11 applications will work reasonably from a remote location. My guess is that some will be fine, but that graphic intensive ones will not be acceptable. I guess the worst case would be I could copy data from the desktop system to the remote laptop and work on it locally.

Dave
phd21
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Posts: 10103
Joined: Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:42 pm
Location: Florida

Re: ssh with X11 for remote access?

Post by phd21 »

HI dhdurgee (Dave),

You are welcome...

As long as you have reasonably quick Internet access, then you should be able to use x11 applications or the entire graphical desktop through your SSH connection. SSH works very well and is used by most computer professionals for remote access and administration of remote host computers.

You could also use the wonderful TeamViewer application.
Phd21: Mint 20 Cinnamon & xKDE (Mint Xfce + Kubuntu KDE) & KDE Neon 64-bit (new based on Ubuntu 20.04) Awesome OS's, Dell Inspiron I5 7000 (7573) 2 in 1 touch screen, Dell OptiPlex 780 Core2Duo E8400 3GHz,4gb Ram, Intel 4 Graphics.
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