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Running the X server and X clients on different PCs

Using Linux, there is no reason why the X server and the X clients (applications) have to be on the same computer. An X server does not require particularly sophisticated hardware - a basic PC can be set up to boot up and run an X server from a local hard disk. The user would then connect to another computer running the X clients to do ‘real work’. A device like this is known as a dumb X terminal.

This can be carried a stage further – a dumb X terminal can be set to download its software from another computer every time it boots, eliminating the need for a local hard disk - a diskless X terminal.

The main restriction created by the split is that the communications between the X clients and the X server is limited by the bandwidth of the network connecting the two systems. Using current networking technologies, it is impractical to run video-hungry applications such as watching DVDs or playing video games. However, normal commercial applications – including CAD, photo-editing, etc – run without problems at normal LAN speeds.

Taking this a stage further, many low-powered X terminals can be served from a single X server in a multi-user configuration.

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