What program provides 'xclock/xeyes' X11 test functionality in new versions of RHEL?

Solution Verified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

Issue

  • How to install the xclock in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8?
  • Need a simple X11 application to test X11 forwarding in RHEL.
  • Unable to find xclock or xeyes applications in RHEL8 or newer.

Resolution

  • The xclock or xeyes applications are provided by xorg-x11-apps package. The xorg-x11-apps package has been provided in the CodeReady Linux Builder Repository(CRB) for RHEL8.

  • Starting with RHEL 9 the package xorg-x11-apps has been removed and is no longer available from Red Hat.
    A standalone xclock package is available in RHEL 9 via EPEL How to use Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL)?.

  • Testing of basic X11 forwarding functionality can instead be done using the xterm application which is currently provided by Red Hat for all versions of RHEL. This can also be used to test X11 functionality in all version of Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

Steps to install the package for xclock/xeyes - ( RHEL8 only)

  • Enable the CRB repository on the system:

    # subscription-manager repos --enable=codeready-builder-for-rhel-8-$(arch)-rpms

  • To install the package:

    # yum install xorg-x11-apps

  • To test X11 functionality:

    $ xclock
or
# xeyes

Steps to install the package for xterm - ( All versions of RHEL )

  • To install the package:

    # dnf install xterm

  • To test X11 functionality:

    $ xterm

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