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remote-docker-x11-audio

This project enables X11 forwarding and audio playback from remote Docker containers to local Windows/Mac clients. Run GUI apps and play audio in containers on remote servers, with output on your local machine. Supports tools like matplotlib and pyaudio. Create a seamless, native-like experience for remote development environments.

Audio Forwarding (Mic & Speaker)

Windows Client Setup

  1. Download PulseAudio for Windows from the official website.
  2. Extract the downloaded ZIP file to a folder (e.g., C:\pulseaudio-1.1).
  3. Edit the configuration file (located at C:\pulseaudio-1.1\etc\pulse\default.pa):
load-module module-native-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=0.0.0.0/0 auth-anonymous=1
load-module module-esound-protocol-tcp auth-ip-acl=0.0.0.0/0 auth-anonymous=1
load-module module-waveout sink_name=output source_name=input
set-default-sink output
set-default-source input

  1. Edit C:\pulseaudio-1.1\etc\pulse\daemon.conf Set exit-idle-time = -1 to prevent PulseAudio from exiting when idle.

  2. Run PulseAudio: Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

"C:\pulseaudio-1.1\bin\pulseaudio.exe" --exit-idle-time=-1

Mac Client Setup

Docker Container Setup

  1. Run the following commands in your Docker container to install PulseAudio:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y pulseaudio alsa-utils
  1. Create necessary directories
mkdir -p /var/run/dbus
mkdir -p /var/run/pulse
mkdir -p /root/.config/pulse
  1. Generate machine-id
dbus-uuidgen > /var/lib/dbus/machine-id
  1. If your dbus-daemon is not running, start it:
dbus-daemon --system --fork
  1. Configure PulseAudio:
cat << EOF > /etc/pulse/client.conf
# default-server = tcp:<WINDOWS_IP>:4713    # Will be set via environment variable
autospawn = no
daemon-binary = /bin/true
enable-shm = false
EOF
  1. Export the PulseAudio server address:
export PULSE_SERVER=tcp:<CLIENT_IP>:4713

Replace <CLIENT_IP> with the IP address of your Windows/Mac client.

Additional Commands

  1. Check if PulseAudio is running:
pactl info
  1. Test audio playback:
# Default audio test
speaker-test -c 2 -t wav

# Play a test audio file
aplay -D pulse test_audio.wav
  1. Test audio recording:
# Default audio recording
arecord -f cd -t wav -d 5 output.wav
aplay -D pulse output.wav


# Record audio from the default microphone using pyaudio
python3 pyaudio_test_microphone.py
aplay -D pulse output.wav

Troubleshooting

X11 Forwarding (GUI)

Docker Container Setup

  1. Ensure SSH is installed and running in your Docker container:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y openssh-server
sudo service ssh start

# Set `PermitRootLogin yes` in /etc/ssh/sshd_config if you want to SSH as root
  1. Edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config to include:
X11Forwarding yes
X11UseLocalhost no
  1. Restart the SSH service:
# For systemctl based systems
sudo systemctl restart ssh

# For systems using service
sudo service ssh restart
  1. Install X11 and GUI applications in your Docker container:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y xauth x11-apps

Windows Client Setup

  1. Install an SSH client like PuTTY.
  2. Install an X11 server like Xming.
  3. Open PuTTY and navigate to Connection > SSH > X11.
  4. Check Enable X11 forwarding.
  5. Navigate back to Session, enter the hostname and port of your server, and click Open.
  6. Install Xming and run it.
  7. Open PuTTY and SSH into your server.
  8. Run a GUI application like xeyes or gedit.

Mac Client Setup