x11vnc -loop and -bg exclusive?

mfoley · 11-09-2015, 01:34 PM

I'm running x11vnc 0.9.13 on Ubuntu 14.04 and tightVNC viewer 2.7.10 on Windows 7.

the x11vnc option -loop says, "Create an outer loop restarting the x11vnc process whenever it terminates. -bg and -inetd are ignored in this mode (however see -loopbg below)."

However, -loopbg -bg doesn't actually put x11vnc into the background and it appears to restart the connection every 500ms.

On screen

Code:

PORT=5900
SSLPORT=5900

 --- x11vnc loop: sleeping 500 ms ---


 --- x11vnc loop: 2 ---

 --- x11vnc loop: waiting for: 18989

PORT=5900
SSLPORT=5900

 --- x11vnc loop: sleeping 500 ms ---


 --- x11vnc loop: 3 ---

 --- x11vnc loop: waiting for: 19128

Using just -loop by itself does not do this repeating thing. It just waits for a connection and allows me to log back in after I've logged out on the Windows 7 viewer. However, it can't use -bg if using -loop. Without -loop, the viewer cannot reconnect after logging out.

Has anyone figured out how to get xllvnc to loop (permit viewer reconnections) in the background without the sleep/waiting every 500ms?

Doug G · 11-10-2015, 01:22 PM

I haven't used those options, but I do use x11vnc on my LAN. Basically I ssh to the remote machine and start x11vnc as root, which then can show me the xfce login greeter remotely and the connection survives over login/logout.

Maybe this kind of alternative will help your situation.

mfoley · 11-11-2015, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug G

I haven't used those options, but I do use x11vnc on my LAN. Basically I ssh to the remote machine and start x11vnc as root, which then can show me the xfce login greeter remotely and the connection survives over login/logout.

Maybe this kind of alternative will help your situation.

No, I'm doing that now and it works, but what I need is for the x11vnc task to start at boot time and stay up with repeated connections/disconnections. The idea is to simulate Windows Remote Desktop.

I can probably start it from rc.local with '&': `x11vnc --loop --otheroptions &`, but I'm looking for something a bit cleaner. There must be some combination that works; surely the developer(s) tested the -loopbg and -bg options?

btw, the --forever option appears to do nothing. Your experience?

Perhaps most importantly: is there a listserver or website for support for x11vnc? I haven't found one. The author appears to be Karl Runge and his various websites (e.g. http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/) ask for debugging reports and comments, but I find nowhere to submit such things.

mfoley · 11-11-2015, 02:30 PM

more testing: using -loopbg -forever -bg -ssl options restart the connection every 500ms *and* create a new certificate each time! That's crazy; can't be right.