Re: Using tramp to connect to a remote emacs session

[Suvayu Ali]

Hi Michael,

On Thursday 03 September 2009 06:08 AM, Michael Albinus wrote:
> Suvayu Ali<fatkasuvayu+linux@gmail.com>  writes:
>
> > Hi everyone,
>
> Hi,
>
> > I usually have to connect to my lab using tramp (tramp-default-method is
> > ssh) when I am working from home. Since I go back and forth a lot, I
> > have to start a session every time. Is it possible for me to run
> > emacs-server on my lab machine and connect to that using tramp from my
> > home? That would save me a lot of time (mostly annoyance though ;) ) in
> > starting a new session.
>
> Since you are not the first one who has asked, I've just added the
> following to the Tramp manual (Frequently Asked Questions):

I think I went through that section but could not figure out how to get 
the server file. That became clear as soon I saw your little code 
snippet. :)

> ---
> * How can I use TRAMP to connect to a remote GNU Emacs session?
>
>    You can configure Emacs Client doing this.  On the remote host,
>    you start the Emacs Server:
>
>         (require 'server)
>         (setq server-host (system-name)
>               server-use-tcp t)
>         (server-start)
>
>    Make sure, that the result of `(system-name)' can be resolved on
>    your local host; otherwise you might use a hard coded IP address.
>
>    The resulting file `~/.emacs.d/server/server' must be copied to
>    your local host, at the same location.  You can call then the
>    Emacs Client from the command line:
>
>         emacsclient /ssh:user@host:/file/to/edit
>
>    `user' and `host' shall be related to your local host.

Correct me if I go wrong, when I issue that command emacsclient tells 
the remote server to connect with the localhost over tramp. It 
determines where the remote server is from the server file.

My problem is my ISP at the local machine doesn't allow me to login to 
it from outside. In other words I probably don't have a static ip. So 
when I issue the command I get,

> $ emacsclient /ssh:user@local.host:~/file
> emacsclient: connect: Connection refused
> emacsclient: connected to remote socket at xxx.xx.xxx.xx
> Waiting for Emacs...
>
> *ERROR*: Process died

And on the remote machine I get the following in the *Messages* buffer,

> Tramp: Opening connection for user@local.host using ssh...
> Tramp: Waiting 60s for local shell to come up...
> Tramp: Sending command `ssh local.host -l user  -q -e none && exit || exit'
> Tramp: Waiting for prompts from remote shell
> File error: Process died

So to summarize my problem is I can only connect one way, local.host to 
remote machine, and hence tramp fails to work. Does this mean the only 
way I will get this working is to get my ISP to give me a static ip?

Thanks for the help so far Michael. Much appreciated.

--
Suvayu

Open source is the future. It sets us free.