A great deal of scientific data analysis and plotting software runs on Unix/Linux computers. Unix/Linux is an operating system like windows, but different. The graphical user interface and windowing system for linux is called "X windows." It uses a client/server model, so that programs can be running on one machine, but displaying on another.
This web page will explain how to install the necessary software to connect to the AOS 1411 lab computers and run X windows based software (matlab, GEMPAK, McIDAS, etc.) remotely, displaying it on your PC. Some of the images are kind of old and refer to Windows 7, but the same idea should apply to Windows 10.
Please note that some software that requires 3d graphics/OpenGL (vis5d, McIDAS-V, Unidata IDV, etc) may not display properly depending on your hardware setup.
Xming is a free X server for windows and runs under Microsoft Windows. Xming can be downloaded from this web site
Scroll down to the Releases section, and under the Public Domain releases, get Xming and Xming-fonts. Don't worry if the version numbers on the web page are different than in these images. You do not need Xming-mesa unless you have problems with just Xming.
Install Xming first. It should automatically install in the correct place. In the setup window, you can uncheck "Non US Keyboard Support", "XLaunch wizard - frontend for Xming", and "Run utility - start programs with hidden console window." Also, check the circle next to "Normal PuTTY Link SSH client", so the install screen looks something like this:
PuTTY is a Windows Secure Shell client, used to connect over the network to our linux machines. PuTTY can be downloaded for free from The PuTTY download page. You most likely want to grab the 64 bit Windows MSI installer file (currently putty-64bit-0.73-installer.msi.) If you have a 32 bit version of Windows (unlikely) you'll want the 32 bit installer.
Run the putty installer. All of the defaults should be fine.
Each time you want to run programs that use X windows, you need to start the X server (if it isn't already running.) From the start menu (shown here from Windows 7) click on "All Programs" and select the Xming application from the Xming folder.
The first time you run Xming, the windows firewall may ask if you want to keep blocking it. Select "Unblock" or "Allow Access." If asked, unblock for all networks.
When the Xming server is running, you should see an X down on the status line by the clock. You might have to click on the little up arrow to get additional icons to see it.
Now start PuTTY from the Start Menu in the PuTTY folder. When it first starts, it will come up with a configuration screen.
Type the machine name that you want to connect to in the 'Host Name' Box. For example, cat4.aos.wisc.edu. Make sure the connection type is set to SSH.
In the configuration options on the left, click on the plus sign next to SSH. Then select X11 and make sure the "Enable X11 Forwarding box is checked.
You can save the session to easily connect in the future by typing a name in the "Saved Sessions" box, and clicking the "Save" button on the right side
Once saved, you can double click on that entry in the large dialog box to connect to that machine.
The first time you connect to a new remote host, you may receive a security alert about the host key of the remote host. Click on "Yes" to accept the remote host key.
The putty client will connect to the remote machine and ask for a login (your username) and your password. Then you should be able to run x-windows programs (like gempak, matlab, etc.) on the remote machine and have them display on your desktop.
When you are all done, you can quit putty and close the X server. To close the X server, you need to right-click on the X server icon on the lower-right side of your windows desktop (you might have to click on the upward triangle to see it) and select "Exit"
A confirmation dialog box will come up. Click on Exit
