Remote execution of commands in a multi-host network

Abstract

A multi-host data processing network and associated method are disclosed. The network includes a local host, a remote host, and a terminal including a display, a keyboard, and a pointing device. A display server associated with a user of the terminal is present on the local host. The display server enables the user to execute GUI applications on local and remote hosts from the terminal via a display server authorization mechanism. The network is configured to enable the user to execute a command entered at the terminal on the remote host using the display server as an intermediary. In one embodiment, the local host includes a client application and the remote host includes a daemon process, wherein the client application is enabled to receive the command from the user and the daemon process is configured to retrieve and execute the command. The daemon process may be configured to monitor changes to a special purpose property of the display server and the client application may be configured to alter the special purpose display server property upon receiving the command from the user. The daemon process may be configured to open a display server window and to store a window id of the display server window as the value of the display server property. The client application may be configured to change the display server property to zero or another suitable value upon receiving the command. The client application may be enabled to transfer the command to a clipboard associated with the display server window. The daemon process may be enabled to retrieve the command from the clipboard upon detecting a change to the special purpose display server property.