I need to start a 'dummy' X display on a UNIX server

[Luis Toro]

There is some oracle product that requires an X display upon startup. I am trying to automate the startup vi an rc script on the server, but I'm somewhat confused on how to configure this. The server does not have a graphics card, nor a graphics console. Is there a way to accomplish this ?
Thanks

[Sanjay_6 · Accepted solution]

Hi Luis,

I think what you are looking for is xvfb,

http://www2.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000079976295

the itrc doc id is XWINKBRC00004791.

Hope this helps.

regds

[Oviwan]

Hi,

which oracle product requires an X display?

Regards

[Raj D.]

Hi Luis ,

You can use vncserver , from www.realvnc.com
That will enable you to use X-Window.

The vnc server software has to be install in the server , and then need to client through putty with ssh tunnel. and X-Window will be available.


Cheers,
Raj.

[John Collier]

The VNC suggestion should work, but you will have to be sure that all the X-windows packages are intalled on the server as well. Since it sounds like it was knowingly set up to be a "headless" box, it is possible that none of those packages were installed.

I know I have saved space on a box or two of my own that way if I never expected to do more than remote command line.

[Luis Toro]

The product is Oracle E-Busines. The Java AWT component requires an X-display. We did install VNC (and it works) but I wanted to know if there was a native solution. We also got an audit inquiry as to why we were running VNC on the server. Currently the DBA's manually start the app (on the test server), but they have to automate (in prod)using an RC script, sending the display to an "audit friendly" locale (ie., the X-display equivalent of /dev/null, if there were such a thing). I read the doc on xvfb, and I'll experiment with that solution.

Thanks

[Luis Toro]

Last question: Any reason not to use DISPLAY=host:0 (versus :10) ? Seems to be configurable in the config file, but I'm wondering if I should change it to '0'.
thanks