[FIXED] x11 forwarding through Google Colab

Issue

I was hoping to get x11 forwarding to work on Google Colab. I am using a Windows 10 machine and the Google Colab OS information can be found at the bottom of the post. Here's what I did to test it out:

1. Installed Xming and ran it.

2. Made a new IPython notebook in Google Colab and installed x11 apps successfully using

   !sudo apt-get install x11-apps
   

3. Set my display to be my IP address using

   !export DISPLAY=<my-ip-address>
   

4. Run !xeyes. I get an error message saying Error: Can't open display:

I'm not sure if this is a problem of using the correct DISPLAY setting, running x11 forwarding through Google Colab or both!Can anyone help me out? Thank you!

The relevant parts of the output of when I run !cat /etc/os-release on my Google Colab notebook.

NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="18.04.3 LTS (Bionic Beaver)"
ID=ubuntu
ID_LIKE=debian
VERSION_ID="18.04"
VERSION_CODENAME=bionic
UBUNTU_CODENAME=bionic

Solution

tl;dr

1. Open 6000/tcp port on your router and firewall
2. Install VcXsrv
3. Run "XLaunch" with "Disable access control"
4. Run "!apt-get install x11-apps && export DISPLAY=YOUR_IP_ADDRESS:0.0 && eyes" on Colab

Check

1. Google Colab does not keep environment variables across code cells. So you should set DISPLAY variable each them.

2. Xming may disallow remote connection as a default setting. At least, VcXsrv do that. Try to disable access control. This is an insecure option.

3. Router and firewall must open 6000+n/tcp port. The n is display number counting from 0. (e.g. HOSTNAME:0.0 → n=0) Open Port Check Tool - Test Port Forwarding on Your Router

Answered By - Melvin A. Tirado