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xhost - Allowing computers access

The xhost program can disable or enable access control for all computers or certain computers. Owners of ``magic cookies'' always have access regardless of the setting for computers.

To check which computers have access to your display:

$xhost
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
$

To allow a certain computer to use your display:

$xhost +platon
platon being added to access control list
$xhost
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
INET:platon
$

To allow all computers to use your display, i.e. disable all access control:

$xhost +
access control disabled, clients can connect from any host
$xhost
access control disabled, clients can connect from any host
INET:platon
$

To cancel access control for all computers except explicitly named ones:

$xhost -
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
$xhost
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
INET:platon
$

To cancel access control for named computers:

$xhost -platon
platon being removed from access control list
$xhost
access control enabled, only authorized clients can connect
$

As giving access control to whole computers leaves a security loophole, access control can be done by giving out ``magic cookies''.



Mark O. Stitson
Wed Sep 25 10:45:32 BST 1996