XDMCP is slow any ideas? (looking for alternative remote desktops)

I've been used to using RDP on Windows to remote to machines, and I've got an asus eee 701 which I want to use to do some *nix programming on. While the eee is a lovely little machine the screen and keyboard are a little small to use for lots of programming.

I've tried using Xming (the free version) to remote login into the eee from my desktop using XDMCP (or even using a ssh session as a straight X11 server and no desktop on the eee) the whole thing seems seriously slow over wifi the initial desktop takes at least 5 seconds to paint (might even be 10 seconds I haven't actually timed it).

So my real question is what do other folks use for remote control with a GUI for their *nix boxes? I am finding it hard to believe the performance is so bad over a wifi network (It makes the Mac IIs I used to use a college in 1988 seem fast) or is this just a problem with Xming and using say the Cygwin X11 server would be better.

PeterI

Posted 2010-03-16T09:01:40.740

Reputation: 135

Answers

if you want performance, security and flexibility, i suggest takeing a look at nx - nomachine.com has a good windows client, and the freenx server will work on the server side

Journeyman Geek

Posted 2010-03-16T09:01:40.740

Reputation: 119 122

Thanks that looks like it's worth a go, it reads like it will sort out my basic performance problems (mind you calling a eee701 a server is a bit of stretch). – PeterI – 2010-03-16T11:05:49.337

i used it on a PII 450 with 640 mb of ram. And that WAS my server until 2 weeks ago. – Journeyman Geek – 2010-03-16T13:44:47.420

It's not exactly remote desktop, but it'll work;

www.tridiavnc.com

it is inherently unsecure, but if you control when you are using it, and don't open the port on your router, you should be good.

Jeremy

Posted 2010-03-16T09:01:40.740

Reputation: 73

Have you considered X11 Forwarding using SSH? I have used this with much satisfaction in the past.

ayaz

Posted 2010-03-16T09:01:40.740

Reputation: 8 106

Tried this still poor perf. – PeterI – 2010-03-16T11:02:48.877