Using Matlab remotely with X Windows

Note that steel.ucs.indiana.edu can be replaced with the name of any UNIX-type computer you have access to.

• First install X11 on your computer. It is not part of the default OS X installation, but you can install it from your system DVD. Or you can download it from http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/macosx_updates/x11formacosx.html. It will install to the Applications/Utilities folder.
• start X11 up and a terminal window will appear. Type xhost steel.ucs.indiana.edu and hit enter. Now we need your IP address to setup the display. Your IP address can be found under Network in the System Preferences. Under Show select where your Internet access comes from (ethernet, wireless, etc.) and you should see your IP address. Type DISPLAY=ipaddress:0 where ipaddress is replaced with your IP address (periods included). Then type export DISPLAY and we're almost done.
• Type ssh -Y username@steel.ucs.indiana.edu and then type your password. Replace username with your username. Now you are connected remotely to the computer (in this case steel). You can now just type matlab and Matlab will launch. You should see the splash screen appear soon and if you don't then something didn't happen correctly and you should try again.
• If you are still having trouble then let us know.

• First you need to get an X server installed on your computer. Two ways of doing this: Download it from here http://x.cygwin.com/. It has a very cryptic install program, but you want to install everything. To do that once it says "Select Packages" then click "All" so that it changes to "Install". Then you should be set to install the whole package (since X is not part of the default). The installation will take a ridiculously long time but your computer is fine to do other things while the installation occurs. If you are feeling brave you can try to just install the X11 part, but there's mixed reports about doing it. My impression is that only experts should try it.

  The second way is to use IU's xlivecd program. It does not require installing anything to the hard drive and it's probably easier to do than the cygwin route.

• If you installed it correctly you will see an icon on your desktop called "Start X Server". Start it and you should see a new process running in the system tray. Then double click on the Cygwin icon on the desktop and you should see a terminal window pop up. Type "exit" in that window to shut it down.
• Find your IP address to setup the display so that the remote machine knows where to send the plots and X windows. Your IP address can be found under Network Connections in the Control Panel. Double click on your network connection (ethernet, wireless, etc.) and on the second tab you should see your IP address. Type DISPLAY=ipaddress:0 where ipaddress is replaced with your IP address (periods included). Then type export DISPLAY followed by xhost steel.ucs.indiana.edu and we are almost done.
• Type ssh -Y username@steel.ucs.indiana.edu and then type your password. Replace username with your username. Now you are connected remotely to the computer (in this case steel). You can now just type matlab and Matlab will launch. You should see the splash screen appear soon and if you don't then something didn't happen correctly and you should try again.