Start X without graphic card possible?

cyberius · 2011-02-12 15:52:08

Hello

I installed arch linux on an old, remote computer which has NO graphics card (the graphic card is now in another old computer).
I can connect to it with SSH and do stuff.

Now I would like to know if it is possible to start X on the remote machine and control it locally on my Windows 7 computer (like remote desktop)?

I installed Xorg and tried to start and this is what I got

homer@homer~]$ startx
xauth:  file /home/homer/.Xauthority does not exist
xauth:  file /home/homer/.Xauthority does not exist


X.Org X Server 1.9.4
Release Date: 2011-02-04
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.37-ARCH i686
Current Operating System: Linux homer 2.6.37-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat Jan 29 19:                                                 40:04 UTC 2011 i686
Kernel command line: root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/8355118c-c67e-46cb-8dfa-119167b612e8                                                  ro
Build Date: 04 February 2011  09:39:45PM

Current version of pixman: 0.20.2
        Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
        to make sure that you have the latest version.
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: Sat Feb 12 16:26:11 2011
(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Primary device is not PCI
(EE) Failed to load module "fbdev" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
         at http://wiki.x.org
 for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional informati                                                 on.

xinit: giving up
xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
xinit: server error

I think the most important part is

Primary device is not PCI
(EE) Failed to load module "fbdev" (module does not exist, 0)
(EE) No devices detected.

So does this mean it is not possible to start X without a card?
What driver do I need? I didn't install any because I don't know which I need for no graphic card.
If it is not possible I have to look on ebay for an old graphic card

Last edited by cyberius (2011-02-12 16:11:38)

laurentis · 2011-02-12 16:08:55

AFAIK you need some graphics hardware to run a X server on a given computer.
If your plan is to run X applications remotely and display locally, you'll need to have an X server running on your local computer.
On windows you could use something like http://www.straightrunning.com/XmingNotes
Then it's just a question setting up X11 forwarding on your ssh session.

cyberius · 2011-02-12 16:14:14

Yes thank you, in "putty" (windows ssh client) I checked forwarding X to localhost:0 and installed xming.

So the only question remaining is if it is possible to start X without a card and what driver is needed.

Last edited by cyberius (2011-02-12 16:15:57)

MadTux · 2011-02-12 16:24:28

I would second laurentis in saying X requires a graphics card. It won't start since X searches for a graphics card and then loads the appropriate driver.

briest · 2011-02-12 18:01:42

If you have X server (like Ming) running on your Windows machine, there's no need to have another one on Linux side. Just make sure, that X forwarding is properly configured in putty and X client library (libx11) is installed on Linux.

And, as a side note, running X without graphics card is possible -- see xvfb. But you don't need it.

Pank · 2011-02-12 23:36:07

vnc is pretty good. You will be able to easily open a virtual desktop via ssh.

cyberius · 2011-02-13 10:03:38

Thank you guys! I didn't know that there is so much possible Just wow!

jelly · 2011-02-13 10:25:56

Pank wrote:

vnc is pretty good. You will be able to easily open a virtual desktop via ssh.

No, not in his case, it requires a X server to be run on his machine which is not the case.

And i would always say FreeNX is better than VNC over WAN -> it caches X and does much nice session stuff

Arch Linux

#1 2011-02-12 15:52:08

Start X without graphic card possible?

#2 2011-02-12 16:08:55

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#3 2011-02-12 16:14:14

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#4 2011-02-12 16:24:28

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#5 2011-02-12 18:01:42

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#6 2011-02-12 23:36:07

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#7 2011-02-13 10:03:38

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

#8 2011-02-13 10:25:56

Re: Start X without graphic card possible?

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