Install and run an X server on Windows

From NCEAS Knowledge Base

X11 on Windows using Xming and Putty

1. Download and install Xming and Putty:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming
http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html

2. Start Xming:

Start → All Programs → Xming → Xming

3. Start Putty:

Start → All Programs → Putty → Putty

4. Type in the name of the server you want to connect, and make sure "Enable X11 forwarding" is enabled under the "X11" option on the bottom left of the open window

X11 on Windows using Cygwin/X

1. Find and run c:\cygwin\usr\X11R6\bin\startxwin.sh (create a shortcut to this file on your desktop for quicker access). A "X" will appear in the bottom right of the screen and a terminal will open on the desktop
2. From this terminal type "ssh -Y muse" (where muse is the server you want to connect to). You will be prompted for your password and be logged into muse.
3. Type the name of the program you wish to run.

If you're not sure which method to use, choose Xming with Putty. It is considerably smaller and easier to use than Cygwin.

Installing the software:
Xming http://freedesktop.org/wiki/Xming
Putty http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
Cygwin http://cygwin.com/

X11 on Windows using Xming and SSH Secure Shell Client

        Start the Xming client in multiwindow mode (it runs in the background, you will
        see only an "X" icon in he toolbar), then connect to the NCEAS helios server (helios.nceas.ucsb.edu)
        using the Secure Shell client, and, at the Unix command prompt, enter the 'xclock' command. 
        A small window with a clock face should appear. Close the window, stop the Xming client
        NOTE: Be sure that the SSH Secure Shell Client is configured to Tunnel X11 Connections:
        From the SSH Secure Shell toolbar, select Edit/Settings/Profile Settings/Tunneling, then,
        in the X11 tunneling section, check the 'Tunnel X11 connections' box.