xming display after issuing the su command

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11

Situation

You setup xming for remote x window display, ssh into the Linux server issue a command such as yast2, the display is rendered on your Windows workstations via xming, Then you su to another account (I.e root) now the graphical windows are no longer displayed on your Windows workstation

Resolution

After you su to root or some other account you need to copy the /home/user/.Xauthority file to the user you just su'd to's home directory for instance. I ssh into a server as jsmith the ssh session will open and place me in /home/jsmith from here I su to root (su root) I am still in /home/jsmith from here I issue the command "cp .Xauthority ~/" or in long version "cp /home/jsmith/.Xauthority /root/

Disclaimer

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