running x without a video card?

Rarrum · 08-05-2006, 12:07 AM

Is it possible to run X without a video card? The reason I ask, is I have an old comp here I use as a server that hasn't had monitor/keyboard/etc attached in ages, as I normally just either ssh or vnc into it every once in a while. However, the vid card fans (ancient thing) started going out and making a ton of noise, so I just removed the video card. Comp still works fine of course, but I haven't been able to VNC into it since then, as X won't start.

I've tried just removing the lines from xorg.conf about the vid card... but that didn't help. Anyone know if it's even possible to run it without a vid card, or know how? heh.

I'm using the latest xorg in debian unstable.

Tinkster · 08-05-2006, 01:25 AM

Something like this, maybe? No idea what the package is called in
Debian if there is one ...

ftp://mirror.pacific.net.au/linux/sl...8.2-i486-3.txt

Btw, I'm quite surprised that the box DOES boot without a video-card,
that's most unusual, I can't say I've seen many PCs that will.

Cheers,
Tink

dalek · 08-05-2006, 02:44 AM

I have never seen one that would boot without a video card, mine just sits there beeping. I guess some exspensive servers would but not just a regular system. Strange that it worked at all and I have no clue how to make it run a GUI without one.

comptiger5000 · 08-05-2006, 10:43 AM

my suggestion would be to put the video card back and replace the fans, or get a cheap one that's fanless.

Rarrum · 08-05-2006, 06:37 PM

It's an old old system... I think a while back I set some options in bios to tell it to just ignore any keyboard/etc errors on boot. It does do the "hey where's the vid card?" beeps at boot, but it just ignores it then, heh.

I'll look at that vfbs though.. thanks.

Tinkster · 08-05-2006, 07:04 PM

Welcome ... and if you manage to get it installed & going, please
post back for the benefit of others :} who may wish to do similar
things in the future.

Cheers,
Tink

archtoad6 · 08-21-2006, 04:36 PM

I have never done this, but I have always been told that one of the features of X is that the server & the client are separate & named "backwards" -- the X client runs on the box that serves the app. & the X server runs on the box that the user is viewing.

Because of this structure, it's supposed to the proverbial piece of cake to run a desktop on a headless box & interact w/ it over a LAN. That was the point of designing it like that.

Sorry I'm so long on theory & short on practical advice.