Set remote clipboard for VIM 8 in Mac High Sierra

Remote settings (Debian Stretch)

  • Install vim-gtk xclip and xauth
apt-get install -y xclip xauth vim-gtk
  • Check that clipboard has been compiled in your VIM installed
root@remote# vim --version | grep clipboard                                                                                                                                                                                   traefik!?
+clipboard       +job             +path_extra      +user_commands
+eval            +mouse_dec       +statusline      +xterm_clipboard
  • Edit the file /etc/ssh/sshd_config
X11Forwarding yes
X11UseLocalhost  no
  • Reload ssh
/etc/init.d/ssh reload
  • Configure VIM in the file ~/.vimrc
" yank to clipboard
if has("clipboard")
  set clipboard=unnamed " copy to the system clipboard

  if has("unnamedplus") " X11 support
    set clipboard+=unnamedplus
  endif
endif

Remote settings (Centos 7)

  • Install xclip and xauth
yum install xclip xauth
  • Follow the same steps for Debian installation

Local settings

  • Install VIM 8 in Mac
brew install vim --with-client-server
  • Check that clipboard has been compiled in your VIM installed
adam@shanghai ~> vim --version | grep clipboard
+clipboard         +jumplist          +persistent_undo   +vertsplit
+emacs_tags        +mouse_dec         -sun_workshop      +xterm_clipboard
  • Edit the file vim ~/.ssh/config and put inside this content
XAuthLocation /opt/X11/bin/xauth
Host *
    ForwardAgent yes
    ForwardX11 yes

  • If XQuartz is not already open each time Vim is launched, open XQuartz and marked the option which says Update Pasteboard immediately when text is selected in the section Pasteboard under Preferences

  • For login, always include the letter X in your connection string like this ssh -X root@xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx

Testing VIM captures

  • For copying in the clipboard run in your VIM console when you are in Visual Mode
"*y

or

"+y
  • For paste in the remote server you can use
"*p

or

"+p
  • For paste in the local server you can use your mouse or (or COMMAND + V) to paste the already copied text in the remote clipboard.

Testing Xclip captures

  • In the remote server run
vim --version | grep clipboard | xclip
  • In the local server use your mouse (or COMMAND + V) to paste the already copied text in the remote clipboard. If should be there

keeping X11 display after su or sudo

ln -s /home/username/.Xauthority /root/.Xauthority
Tags
vim