On Mon, 26 May 2003 22:46:31 -0400, <fernando@rxp.com> wrote:
> >
> > I use nedit for all my text editing (except quick and simple vi
> > stuff). It requires X.  My only complaints are its lack of integration
> > with gcc and gdb, and the fact that it can't act as a filter.
> 
> ok, so will X install and work for me if i'm just using my NetBSD box
> via Putty from my Win2k box? i mean, will it work like a remote desktop?
> 'cuz my NetBSD is just a headless Firewall/nat thing over there at my
> office. Even when i'm at the office i don't actually site at that
> machine. i still use putty to log on to it.

You actually could do that, but it's quite a job.  

To run an X application (the client, in X terminology) on your firewall,
you need the X client "set" installed, which doesn't come on the firewall
CD, IIRC.  You could pull from ftp.netbsd.org and use tar(1) to put the
files where they belong.  You'd also have to set up the pkgsrc skeleton,
by similar means.  That's the easy part.  

On your Win32 box, you need an X server.  You'd have to install cygwin +
XFree86, both available (free) from Red Hat.  That would give you the
ability to display X applications on your desktop.  

Once all that's in place, you can "export DISPLAY=winbox:0.0" while logged
in via your Putty session, and fire up X applications.  (If you're logged
in over the internet, you can use ssh's port forwarding for security.) 
The NetBSD X client set includes basic things like xterm and xclock.  Once
you have them working, you can install and use nedit.  

If you're only ever going to edit 10 files on your NetBSD firewall, I'd
guess the above is overkill.  I've done it, though, and it's really not
that hard.  

If that's too much work, non-X editor recommendations would often include
emacs, pico, and joe.  

Regards, 

--jkl