Command Line Syntax for VMS Hosts

This section describes the command line syntax you use to start X applications on VMS hosts.

If your VMS system supports REXEC, RSH, TELNET, or Secure Shell, and is running version 5.0 or higher of the PCX$SERVER command processor, you can specify a command with the following syntax to start an X application with Xstart using the REXEC, RSH, TELNET, or Secure Shell startup methods:

@@sys$system:pcx$server 4,@#,0,tcpip,@a application

where application is the command line required to run the application.

You must use the @# and @a macros since the display number and IP address are not necessarily the same for each session. For example, to start the xterm X application:

@@sys$system:pcx$server 4,@#,0,tcpip,@a DECW$TERMINAL

If you selected the Passive startup mode in Xconfig, and you want to specify the X display server to which X applications should display, you need to define the DISPLAY environment variable prior to starting X applications. You do not need to define the DISPLAY environment variable when using REXEC, RSH, TELNET, or Secure Shell startup methods as PCX$SERVER sets DISPLAY for you.

Note: 
  Do not specify the DISPLAY environment variable in your host login Xstart file since the IP address and display number are not necessarily the same in each session.

Use the following command line syntax to set the DISPLAY environment variable:

For example:

set display/create/node=123.183.33.17/transport=tcpip/server=2

When setting the DISPLAY environment variable, keep the following in mind:

Once the DISPLAY environment variable is set correctly for a login session, you can start X applications from that session using the following command line syntax:

run sys$system:decw$application

For example:

run sys$system:decw$clock

Related Topics

About Remote Commands

Using Display and Login Macros

Starting in Passive Startup Mode