Re: X11 forwarding with headless Ubuntu host with podman

On Mon, May 25, 2026 at 05:22:42PM +0930, Christian Gelinek wrote:
> On 25/5/26 16:33, Geert Stappers wrote:
> > On Mon, May 25, 2026 at 03:47:14PM +0930, Christian Gelinek wrote:
> > > 
> > > 5. I'd like to `ssh -Y localadmin@octopus` from "gar" and then start a
> > > podman container with `xeyes` in it and be able to see it on my screen on
> > > "gar".
> > 
> > Acknowledge on 'podman container with `xeyes` in it'
> > 
> > >  ...  ideas?
> > 
> > Ideas:
> > 
> > * Compare working and non-working setup further
> 
> What would you suggest to compare?

Install packages, running processes,  versions.


And I suggest to test with xterm   instead of xeyes.


 
> > * Tell more about the actual use case.
> 
> I have some software with X11 GUI I'd like to run inside podman containers
> on machine octopus.

Sounds like a wish.
And if that is the use case, then that is the use case.
It is not an use case I have.


> The octopus host itself should be as minimal and as
> disposable as practical and only be used as a gateway to the software in the
> containers.  Previously it was enough to have a few real metal PCs (like
> marlin) with a full-blown desktop environment but recently the number of OS
> variants has been increasing and I'd like to save resources by using
> containers instead, where I'm hoping that trying & installing new OS
> distributions and versions would be less hassle and costly than dealing with
> real metal for each combination.

In RFC 1925 is: Good, Fast, Cheap.   Pick two, you can't have all three.


Thing I'm trying to tell:  Rethink the goal.


 
> Thanks for your time,
> Christian
 

Groeten
Geert Stappers