Choosing X client for graphical installation
You are using MS Windows and you want to install Oracle product on Unix (or Unix-like server) and you don't want to perform silent installation for some reason. You are facing to common question what X client to choose to perfom this task. Here is list of most known (free) clients along with some advantages and disadvantages for each of solutions.
Virtual Network Computing aka VNC
VNC was developed at the Olivetti & Oracle Research Lab owned by Olivetti and Oracle Corporation. It consists of three parts: Server, Client and Protocol. For us there are intersting just two parts:
Server - resides on the server machine and shares its screen.
Client - resides on the local (client) machine and interacts with the server.
Pros:
+ Small and easy to install application
Cons:
- X server must be installed and running on server (Maybe I'm old fashioned but I belive that X server should not be installed on server nor running on server)
- VNC server is not installed by default on server, you need to install it
- Unencrypted communication
Homepage: http://www.tightvnc.com, http://www.realvnc.com
Cygwin
Cygwin is Linux-like enviroment for Windows which was developed at Cygnus
Software and currently is mantained by Redhat.
Cygwin comes with pretty long list of software such as X server, KDE, SSH, Apache, gcc and
so on. You can choose the packages to install during installation of Cygwin.
Pros:
+ All in one. X server, SSH, shell (terminal) so the feelings are the same as
you are using Linux as client/machine.
+ You can use X11 forwarding via SSH
Cons:
- As you need install X server, installation is quite long and Cygwin occupies
significant amount of space.
Homepage: http://www.cygwin.com
WeirdX
WeirdX is Java implementation of X Window Server/Client. It is not designed
for running of "heavy" X clients but for Oracle installation is pretty suitable.
It supports X11 forwarding via SSH and is platform independent.
Pros:
+ X11 forwarding via SSH
+ Platform independent
Cons:
not discovered
Homepage: http://www.jcraft.com/weirdx/
Xming
Xming is small and fast X Server/Client for Windows. This is probably best solution for Windows users.
For SSH shell you need to use Putty.
Pros:
+ Small, stable and fast X Window implementaion
+- Features like X11 Forwarding are provided by external SSH client
Homepage: http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming
Bootable Linux distribution CD / USB Key
If you don't want install anything (or you can't install software to your local machine), you can use any of existing bootable Linux distributions.
You will get full Linux distribution with SSH, X Server and other builtin utilities and features. Well known bootable distributions are: Fedora Live CD, Damn Small Linux (only 50M), Knoppix and others.
This is my case. I'm using bootable USB key with Live Linux distribution with
all software (including Oracle SW) or scripts that I need for installation or maintenance
of Oracle products.
Pros:
+ You will get everything and you don't need to install anything
Cons:
- You need to reboot PC and boot different OS :-)
Conclusion:
Which of these solutions is best? This conlusion is up to you. Following chart is based on my personal feelings where 1 means best solution and 5 worst solution.
1. Xming
2. Linux bootable CD/USB key
3. WeirdX
4. Cygwin
5. VNC
Update:
Linux in Virtual Machine
This another option how to use Linux as client without installation and of
course without need to reboot computer (which is needed to use previous option).
To use this option you need to download just two things:
VMware Player and some image (virtual appliance) of Linux distribution for VMware Player.
Of course in case you have VMware Server/Workstation you can make your own installation of Linux.
Pros:
+ Easy to install solution
+ You can use more operating systems at once
+ Plenty of Linux images availble for download
Cons:
- Memory requirements
http://www.vmware.com/products/player
http://www.vmware.com/appliances
http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware
Thanks to Hans Forbrich for this option (see comments).
7 Comments Add new
Hi Frits.
Let me thank you for your comment.
>> I've pubished an article about Xming too.
Good to know. If you give me a permission I will do a update this article and add reference to your article in Xming paragraph.
Therefore, if you are using Xming in a rdp/terminal server session, no other users can start Xming
Yes, it is truth. But there might be also one exception. If you are using more ethernet cards/IPs and Xming is (can) listening on port 6000 for any IP then it is possible.
hummingbird or reflection X (which aren't listed in your article ;-),
You are right. I listed only utilities (options) which could be downloaded for free from Internet and does not need to purchase license. Some of my colleagues are still using Reflection X and I can't understand why.
P.S: Your blog is very good.
Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 09:37 PM
Hi Ivan,
I've pubished an article about Xming too.
Please mind that using Xming, the X server starts to listen at port 6000. Therefore, if you are using Xming in a rdp/terminal server session, no other users can start Xming, because the server can only listen once at port 6000.
But Xming is a very good alternative to using hummingbird or reflection X (which aren't listed in your article ;-), which I used to encounter in unix shops some 10-15 years ago.
Nowadays these (terribly) expensive X suites are not often encountered anymore. Cygwin is what I encounter most. I advise to use Xming, because it's more simple.
Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 08:59 PM
thanks for your sharing, I use putty myself by the way.
not graphical terminal though
Posted on Friday, March 07, 2008 09:50 PM
zbig,
Thank you very much. I'm glad that you found my articles as useful.
Posted on Saturday, January 05, 2008 06:41 PM
Ivan,
this comment is irrelevant but I want to thank you so much for
your tutorials how to install the oracle on linux!!
Posted on Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:24 AM
Thank you Hans! This is very good suggestion. :-)
I'll update this post and I'll add your comment as another option/solution because I think there is one difference. You need to install VM server/player and OS running in VM needs "some" RAM.
Posted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 11:57 PM
Excellent article.
One thing I would add under the Bootable Linux/USB key is the possibility of virtual machine booting up Linux specifically to handle the X display. SImilar to your USB key solution, but eliminates the need to reboot host.
Posted on Wednesday, December 26, 2007 05:15 PM
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