Run Xsession on a server with no graphics card

[purple melon]

Anyone know how to run an Xsession on a server with no graphics card?

I have debian running on the server, which was installed with a laptop running Ubuntu connected via a serial cable. Putty used to access the server serial console port. With debian running and ssh installed on the server I can ssh into the server with the laptop over the lan i.e. from laptop terminal # ssh web-server@192.168.1.9.

Then logging in as root run "gdm gdm is already running". running startx throws up errors about no pci device detected and waiting for x to accept connections failures.

is there a failsafe startx command? or a startx to a null device type command?

not sure how much info to add but any web links or help appreciated. ta

[nitecon]

If it is a server why do you need to have it run a window manager? You will be much better of just using ssh to get into the server and learning how to configure the server through the prompt than using a window manager. If you absolutely have to you could use XDMCP i guess but that is insecure.

[purple melon]

Thanks nitecon.

Yes I could use ssh and the command line to configure the server, don't have to much experience in the command line so might be a step learning curve. Would be nice to get xsession working or should I just forget about X as it will never work?

[purple melon]

nobody any interest in this then?

[lykwydchykyn]

It sounds like X is running on the workstation. You can't run "startx" or gdm in an ssh session, because they can't run inside a terminal like that.

If you want a remote GUI, you need to set up XDMCP or VNC. Have you tried installing tightvncserver and using that?

[promodus]

I apologize, but I find the question challenging to understand.

What machine has no graphics card? The machine you're connecting to?

If I get this right:

your machine with a graphics card is using ssh to connect to your server without one. You want programs to run on your server but display on your machine.

So in that case

desktop # ssh -X server

once logged into your server, insure that xauth is installed.
From there you can start applications, like gedit for example.
Just SSH -X server, and start the app.

If you want gdm to be running on the server, then that's different.

[purple melon]

Yes promodus you do have it right.

I want to view or display the gdm or xserver (gnome-session) from the server (remote) on to the laptop (local). sorry if these are not the correct terms and don't think I have a total understanding of gdm, xsession or gnome-session!

Server (remote) d390:~#
an HP D Class d390 running Debian Lenny Beta2 HPPA, no graphics card in server so access is via a serial cable for initial boot or install then ssh over network once debian hppa has booted.

Client (local)melon@vaio
a sony laptop running Gnome desktop on Ubuntu hardy heron, putty used to access server via serial cable then terminal to ssh into server.

When I type on melon@vaio "ssh -X root@d390 xclock" and enter root password the xclock is displayed.

when I type on melon@vaio "ssh -X root@d390 nautilus" nautilus file manager pops up.
root@d390's password:
seahorse nautilus module initialized
Initializing gnome-mount extension

when I type "gdm" on d390:~#

d390:~# gdm
gdm[2174]: WARNING: GDM already running. Aborting!
GDM already running. Aborting!
d390:~#

when I type startx on server or ssh -X root@d390 startx on laptop I get the following message.

d390:~# startx

X: warning; process set to priority -1 instead of requested priority 0
X.Org X Server 1.4.2
Release Date: 11 June 2008
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux Debian (xorg-server 2:1.4.2-6)
Current Operating System: Linux d390 2.6.26-1-parisc-smp #2 SMP Wed Sep 10 20:58:00 UTC 2008 parisc
Build Date: 15 September 2008 01:29:21PM

Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Sun Oct 5 02:14:11 2008
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
xf86PciVideoInfo is not set
Could not get primary PCI info

waiting for X server to begin accepting connections
giving up.
xinit: Connection reset by peer (errno 232): unable to connect to X server
xinit: No such process (errno 3): Server error.
d390:~#

When I type on melon@vaio "ssh -X root@d390 gnome-session"

SESSION_MANAGER=local/d390:/tmp/.ICE-unix/2577
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
1223170768.404000 Session manager: disconnected...
Window manager warning: Failed to read saved session file /root/.metacity/sessions/default0.ms: Failed to open file '/root/.metacity/sessions/default0.ms': No such file or directory
Window manager warning: Screen 0 on display "localhost:10.0" already has a window manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current window manager.
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2603): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.SettingsDaemon
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2603): WARNING **: Could not acquire name
seahorse nautilus module initialized
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
1223170785.412000 Session manager: disconnected...
** (update-notifier:2609): WARNING **: already running?
Initializing gnome-mount extension
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2636): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.SettingsDaemon
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2636): WARNING **: Could not acquire name
Window manager warning: Failed to read saved session file /root/.metacity/sessions/default0.ms: Failed to open file '/root/.metacity/sessions/default0.ms': No such file or directory
Window manager warning: Screen 0 on display "localhost:10.0" already has a window manager; try using the --replace option to replace the current window manager.
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
1223170799.412000 Session manager: disconnected...
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2660): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.SettingsDaemon
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2660): WARNING **: Could not acquire name
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
1223170807.628000 Session manager: disconnected...
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2663): WARNING **: Failed to acquire org.gnome.SettingsDaemon
** (gnome-settings-daemon:2663): WARNING **: Could not acquire name
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
** ERROR **: You can only run one xsettings manager at a time; exiting
aborting...
** (gnome-panel:2592): WARNING **: Failed to authenticate with GDM
melon@vaio:~$

Is my problem that I can't start an other x-session on the laptop as I'm in a gnome session already or because I can't start a x-session on the server to export to the laptop?

server and laptop names are examples only!

[cariboo907]

You can manipulte files on your server from your laptop by using sftp. in the location bar in Nautilus type:

sftp://user@server

You could also install webmin on your server it is available here:

http://www.webmin.com/

It is a complete sever administration suite, it even has it's own java based file manager. There is a demo server set up so you try it before you decide whether you can use it or not.

Running a gui on a server is just a waste of ram and cpu cycles, and there aren't any gui server specific tools. Most of a servers configuration files are text based, so getting comfortable with nano, vi or any other text editor is a good idea.

On my server I use mc aka Midnight Commander, you can run it as root to transfer files to directories you don't have permission to, it has a built in test editor, you can use to edit config files. It has a builtin ftp client and many more features. mc is available in the repositories so it is easy to install at the prompt type:

sudo apt-get install mc

and to run it simply type:

mc

If you need to run as root:

sudo mc


Jim

[lykwydchykyn]

You can't forward a display manager or gnome session over ssh. Well, you can try, but as you saw it makes a mess of things or just errors out. If you want a whole desktop session, this is what VNC is for. Or XDMCP.

Here's a doc on XDMCP:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/XDMCP-HOWTO/

Another quite novel method I saw someone using on these forums a while back was to run Xephyr, a nested X server, and then run gnome-session in that.

Install xserver-xephyr then do something like this:

Xephyr -ac -screen 800x600 -br -reset -terminate :1 &
export DISPLAY=:1
ssh myserver gnome-session

[tgalati4]

I'm not aware of a method to run the X-server without some form of graphics hardware. Many server platforms have at least an embedded VGA. Perhaps others know of a way to force xorg without a hardware check.

When an X-server is running, it's helpful to run from a remote machine:

ssh -2 -Y user@servername

Then try:

gnome-panel

[purple melon]

Thanks to all posters

I had to give up on this one, sorry.

Gone back to HP-UX on the D390 and acquired a nice Dell Poweredge 2600 which just works with Ubuntu server installed and running a very quick web server.

thanks again

[aaron.d]

good god, i dont get it... You had this working, you said you could run x apps forwarded through ssh to your local (laptop) Xserver.

When I type on melon@vaio "ssh -X root@d390 xclock" and enter root password the xclock is displayed.

when I type on melon@vaio "ssh -X root@d390 nautilus" nautilus file manager pops up.

I think you don't really understand what X is and its functionality ("client/server").

Is my problem that I can't start an other x-session on the laptop as I'm in a gnome session already



You should really read up on what X window system IS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_Window_System

and read about display manager(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X_display_manager

and DEFINITELY the above cited HOWTO:

http://tldp.org/HOWTO/XDMCP-HOWTO/


Don't walk away from this, it is an important concept. I think you just need to grasp the difference between local resources vs. your servers resources and learn to also separate yourself from the Windows world where all the "Windows"/apps and the gui itself are inseparable entities which are rigidly designed to run on and address "local"(physical) resources.

[ByteJuggler]

Just to add: If you install "vncserver" package, then you can have an X session completely rendering to a virtual VNC display, to which you can then connect (predictably) using VNC.

Another option is for you to simply install NX, which is a highly optimised updated X protocol based client/server, with which you can likewise either have an entire desktop session, or export single application on a remote machine to your local machine.

See this thread (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1002240).