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Lionel Cons and Arnaud Taddei CN/DCI (on the behalf of the UMTF-X11 working group)
This article describes what has happened since the previous CNL.
The UMTF X11 Working Group recommends the use of the HEPiX X11 scripts (described elsewhere in this CNL) and will make sure that this common HEP X environment is in place on the Public UNIX Login Servers (PLUS) and the Work Group Servers (WGS).
The group has evaluated several window managers. As is already the case for other UMTF "applications" (mail readers, editors...), we will support some window managers but recommend only one. The supported window managers are the ones currently widely used at CERN: mwm (Motif), vuewm (HP-VUE), dtwm (COSE/CDE), olwm (Sun OpenWindows), ncdwm (NCD) and fvwm. The recommended one is fvwm; it will be the default on PLUS and WGS. Please note that although fvwm is generally recommended, users of X terminals may use the local window manager to save network bandwidth and system resources on the login host.
From the security point of view, controlling the access to all X servers is essential. The recommended solution is to use the MIT Magic Cookie. We will make sure that this solution is in place on the PLUS and WGS, that it is well documented and that user interaction is as transparent as possible.