Using UxPlay in Headless Ubuntu Server

[diskun00]

Hi,

First, thank a lot for the great project. I am always looking for this kind of software for wireless project. Currently, I am planning using my old laptop with a headless ubuntu server as a mirror server, so that its connected projector can get input from my phone/mac. However, the current installation does not work out well, i.e., 1). the screen is a bit blurred and looks like mozaic (not all color are well displayed). 2). the delay is a bit high as I need to wait ~ 10 seconds to for the connection.

I am wondering if I need to install something additionally. For example, should i install a GUI? Thank you in advance!

[fduncanh]

Are you running X11, or just using the framebuffer?

On Ubuntu with X11 on the old laptop, uxplay should work.

without X11 try

uxplay -vs kmssink

The UxPlay "README" document says:

By default, GStreamer uses an algorithm to search for the best "videosink" (GStreamer's term for a graphics driver to display images) to use. You can override this with the uxplay option -vs . Which videosinks are available depends on your operating system and graphics hardware: use "gst-inspect-1.0 | grep sink | grep -e video -e Video -e image" to see what is available. Some possibilities on Linux/*BSD are:

glimagesink (OpenGL), waylandsink

xvimagesink, ximagesink (X11)

kmssink, fbdevsink (console graphics without X11)

vaapisink (for Intel/AMD hardware-accelerated graphics); for NVIDIA hardware graphics (with CUDA) use glimagesink combined with "-vd nvh264dec" (or "nvh264sldec", a new variant which will become "nvh264dec" in GStreamer-1.24).

The "kmssink" gstreamer videosink works on Raspberry Pi.

I am not sure how to get it working on a intel device. This is a GStreamer issue .
Maybe Googling will help.

• EDIT I just tested on a Dell desktop machine (running a different Linux , not Ubuntu.) When I switch to terminal mode (console) and and shut down X11, uxplay -vs kmssink works perfectly.

So I expect it will also run on your Ubuntu laptop in console mode.

Currently, I am planning using my old laptop with a headless ubuntu server as a mirror server, so that its connected projector can get input from my phone/mac. However, the current installation does not work out well, i.e., 1). the screen is a bit blurred and looks like mozaic (not all color are well displayed). 2). the delay is a bit high as I need to wait ~ 10 seconds to for the connection.

• It seems you are using a "projector" . can you explain more about this? Does it run in console mode?

[fduncanh]

OK

https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_how-to-connect-projector-to-linux_1956

https://www.maketecheasier.com/connect-projector-to-ubuntu-linux/

I don't know about projectors. yet. Are you running X11 or running in console mode? (probably X11)

HDMI or VGA?

[diskun00]

OK

https://www.kentfaith.com/blog/article_how-to-connect-projector-to-linux_1956

https://www.maketecheasier.com/connect-projector-to-ubuntu-linux/

I don't know about projectors. yet. Are you running X11 or running in console mode? (probably X11)

HDMI or VGA?

Hey @fduncanh, thank you for the informative advice. Will check it out later and update here. Regarding my setup, I am using ubuntu in console model (no gui/x11 installed). A projector is connected via HDMI cable (kinda like a external monitor to my laptop).

[fduncanh]

In console mode, try uxplay -vs kmssink

[diskun00]

it works now. Thank you so much!

[zxystd]

@diskun00

1). the screen is a bit blurred and looks like mozaic (not all color are well displayed).

Hi, is this problem fixed? I also face the same issue. I am using Ubuntu Desktop 20.04, IPad Pro 2021, the picture looks not 'clear' just like something masking there, for other airplay sink products displaying perfectly(android side)

[fduncanh]

@zxystd

There was no problem in uxplay that was "fixed":

The user @diskun00 was using console mode (not X11 or Wayland) so needed to use option "uxplay -vs kmssink"

We can't know what your issue is without more details