Connection issue with headless desktop

[marktyler]

I'm having a problem connecting from my machine to my headless Ubuntu box. I have autologin enabled, this works.

vino-server is running


mark@htpc:~$ ps -ef | grep vino
mark 2375 1545 0 21:16 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/vino/vino-server --sm-disable


I seem to be able to connect...


mark@htpc:~$ netstat -an
Active Internet connections (servers and established)
Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:6543 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:111 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:10000 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:6544 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:22 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:631 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:51486 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 127.0.0.1:3306 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:5900 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN
tcp 0 0 192.168.1.4:5900 192.168.1.13:62838 ESTABLISHED
tcp 1 0 192.168.1.4:5900 192.168.1.13:62836 CLOSE_WAIT
tcp 1 0 192.168.1.4:5900 192.168.1.13:62786 CLOSE_WAIT


But I never get a screen thrown back. I can ssh -X -Y and then chuck the odd screen back onto my Mac but no-can-do with vnc. Tried screensharing (says it's connecting but never gets anywhere) and a separate vnc app to connect - same deal.

I have attempted KMS switch..


mark@htpc:~$ cat /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf
options i915 modeset=0


but it still seems to be using it...


mark@htpc:~$ dmesg | grep drm
[ 18.376488] [drm] Initialized drm 1.1.0 20060810
[ 18.752504] [drm] Initialized i915 1.6.0 20080730 for 0000:00:02.0 on minor 0


xorg.conf


mark@htpc:~$ cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Device"
Identifier "Onboard Intel Graphics"
Driver "vesa"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Generic Monitor"
HorizSync 31-101
VertRefresh 60-160
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Basic Screen"
Monitor "Generic Monitor"
Device "Onboard Intel Graphics"
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1600x1200"
EndSubSection
EndSection


grub


mark@htpc:~$ cat /etc/default/grub
# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.

GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=" nomodeset"

# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"

# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_RECOVERY="true"

# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"


Version


mark@htpc:~$ uname -a
Linux htpc 2.6.35-22-generic #35-Ubuntu SMP Sat Oct 16 20:36:48 UTC 2010 i686 GNU/Linux


Can someone advise?

[marktyler]

Bump.

[endotherm]

do you have desktop effects running on the remote desktop? if so, there shoudl be a setting in the vnc client utility to disable x damage. tweak it, adn see if things improve.
another option is to ssh in and run

metacity --replace to disable compiz

[marktyler]

Still not working. About the only thing I can do is SSH and run gnome-session to flick the desktop back. It's far from ideal and one thing I wish they'd sort out as even my Windows machine behaves when run headless.