Tunnel X session *without* xauth ( ssh -R )

[VanDan]

Hi people.

I have to set up a tunnel through a BSD box that doesn't have xauth installed. So I can't use 'ssh -X' or 'ssh -Y' because these require xauth on the remote server.

I believe I can just use ssh's port forwarding ( eg 'ssh -R remote_port:local_address:local_port' syntax ) to forward my X session, however X doesn't seem to be listening for TCP connections. I'm using gdm on my desktop, so I run gdmsetup and unchecked the 'Deny TCP connections to Xserver' box, and restarted gdm. This doesn't seem to have worked.

How do I make X listen for TCP connections, and where do I specify the port?

Thanks.
_________________
David Hicks' plea. Was it:

a) I plead guilty, or
b) Please let me out of here and end the torture

[Hu]

Are you sure the remote end has no xauth utility? I would be surprised to see a system with X clients, but no ability to provide them with proper authentication cookies.

To make X listen for TCP connections, you need to make the startup procedure not pass -nolisten tcp. The port will be 6000 by default. Unless you have a conflict locally, there is no need to change it. You can forward some other port on the remote end to port 6000 locally. However, even once you get that forwarding working, you need to provide the remote applications with permission to connect. The simplest safe way to do that is via xauth cookies. You could use xhost to reduce security, but then anyone on the remote end who can connect to the forwarded port could connect to your X server.

[VanDan]

[Hu]