Linux::SSH X and root

1. ssh -X to the remote machine as yourself.

  $ ssh -X myname@hostname

2. Once there, type xauth list. A list of MAGIC-COOKIE items appears. Your login session is most likely the bottom one on the list. (Check this by looking at the hostname and UNIX number code, and comparing it with the hostname you shelled from and your current localhost:## DISPLAY env variable.)

  $ xauth list
  hostname-q520/unix:10  MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1  9b6309834b5de3497c4b84af84890852

3. Switch users.

  $ su -
  # su - username

4. Type xauth add + the entire MAGIC-COOKIE line from above.

  $ xauth add hostname-q520/unix:10  MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1  9b6309834b5de3497c4b84af84890852

5. Export DISPLAY

  $ export DISPLAY=localhost:10

6. Graphics should appear now. Test it with a quick xlogo or xeyes

  $ xeyes