[Startup] Headless version for a dedicated server

[GoogleCodeExporter]

This is an enhancement request. I would like to be able to run this media 
server on a headless 
dedicated server which means the UI should either be optional, or a separate 
application I can 
run on a client.

What steps will reproduce the problem?
1. I have installed the Linux version on my media server.
2. From the command line, I start it.

What is the expected output? What do you see instead?
The server does not start, but exits with the following exception:
java.awt.HeadlessException: 
No X11 DISPLAY variable was set, but this program performed an operation which 
requires it.
    at java.awt.GraphicsEnvironment.checkHeadless(GraphicsEnvironment.java:159)
    at java.awt.Window.<init>(Window.java:414)
    at java.awt.Frame.<init>(Frame.java:403)
    at java.awt.Frame.<init>(Frame.java:368)
    at javax.swing.JFrame.<init>(JFrame.java:163)
    at net.pms.newgui.LooksFrame.<init>(LooksFrame.java:113)
    at net.pms.PMS.init(PMS.java:269)
    at net.pms.PMS.get(PMS.java:827)
    at net.pms.PMS.main(PMS.java:877)

What version of the product are you using? On what operating system?
The latest, 1.02.1, on an Ubuntu 8.10 server.

Workaround:
There is a workaround, which works but is not very convenient:
1) If you want to run and configure, make sure you login to the server with 
support for X-
Windows turned on so the UI will appear on your client computer:
ssh -X user@server
2) If you just want to run it, make sure you install some kind of dummy 
framebuffer. This way 
you won't be able to actually see the UI, but it will be there and the 
application will start.

If this enhancement is something that fits into the roadmap of this 
application, feel free to 
contact me to help out with its implementation.

Original issue reported on code.google.com by marcel.o...@gmail.com on 11 Jan 2009 at 9:49

[GoogleCodeExporter]

A better workaround would be to use Xvfb:
1) Install Xvfb
2) Run:
Xvfb :5 &
DISPLAY=":5" ./PMS

Original comment by aleks...@gmail.com on 11 Jan 2009 at 10:19

[GoogleCodeExporter]

./PMS.sh console
but it's broken in 1.02.1 

Original comment by ps3mediaserver@gmail.com on 11 Jan 2009 at 10:57

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Then at least determine what the system can do and if it can't display a GUI 
then
warn the user that they have to use that option.

Also isn't headless the most sensible way to run this type of application.

Original comment by Loves...@gmail.com on 16 Jan 2009 at 7:43

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by ps3mediaserver@gmail.com on 16 Jan 2009 at 12:19

• Changed title: [Startup] Headless version for a dedicated server
• Changed state: Fixed