Redirecting a desktop-oriented program's mandatory X output to /dev/null for a server

srunni · 07-16-2008, 03:49 PM

Hi,

I'm trying to write a script that automates some graphical software, such that you can run one command, and it will do its job and quit. But the program requires a graphical environment for it to output to for this script to function, even though the script never requires any interaction. This script will generally be used on a server, where a graphical environment is not available to output to. Is there a way I can redirect X's output to /dev/null or something, so that the program thinks that I have a graphical environment to output to, when it actually doesn't?

Thanks!

jlarsen · 07-16-2008, 04:54 PM

I'm guessing here, but have you tried something similar to this:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
# small script to start your program
export DISPLAY=/dev/null
/path/to/program
exit

MS3FGX · 07-16-2008, 04:54 PM

What program are you trying to interface with? It is pretty rare for a Linux program to require a graphical environment (unless it is something that depends on a GUI to function, like GIMP, but that doesn't seem like the case here).

srunni · 07-16-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlarsen

I'm guessing here, but have you tried something similar to this:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
# small script to start your program
export DISPLAY=/dev/null
/path/to/program
exit

I tried that, but I get this error:

Code:

xterm Xt error: Can't open display: /dev/null

I know the problem is occurring when the program is running, because it doesn't produce any errors when I launch it in the script with a flag to disable the GUI (a flag I cannot use if I want to access the functionality I need).

Quote:

Originally Posted by MS3FGX

What program are you trying to interface with? It is pretty rare for a Linux program to require a graphical environment (unless it is something that depends on a GUI to function, like GIMP, but that doesn't seem like the case here).

VMD. It is possible to run it without a GUI, but the particular functionality I want is not available unless a GUI is running.