How to use X Windows with Putty

People usually use X Windows to invoke GUI in Unix/Linux or AIX box. Some of the X Windows software is proprietary, and some is free. I’m using Xming version 6.9.0.31 and sometimes Cygwin-X, to run SAS 9.2 GUI or to install Oracle Client and Informatica 9.1.0 or even OBIEE installation using GUI interface (OBIEE installation required some special font, cannot use Xming version 6.9.0.31 – need extra font, it’s working if using Cygwin-X)

Running SAS 9.2 in AIX

Installing Oracle Application Server – part of OBIEE installation using Cygwin-X

Installing Informatica 9.1.0 using Xming

Installing Oracle Client 11g using Xming

To use Putty together with Xming, you just need to enable X11 port forwarding in Putty configuration for SSH tunelling (see picture below). If you are using plink (Putty command line), just use option –X to enable the X11 port forwarding i.e. plink -ssh -X –pw password yourid@192.1.1.1 ./startsas.