Headless pc - who does the graphics computing?

[gobbledegeek]

Hello
I'm building 2 headless pcs next week. I can't afford space nor money for extra keybords,mice, or kvm switch. So Iintend to build my own ip over kvm on one pc to access the other two.

I have two basic question:

1. How can I boot these two other pcs (post install with monitor & keybord) without having a keyboard/mouse *&* monitor attached to them? They will run FreeBSD and linux. I mean I don't want keyboard error "press F1 to continue.." or any stupid error message hanging the boot process

2. I heard it is poosible to be truly headless: i.e *without even a Graphics card*. Is it? Can VNC alone help here or do I need Xvfb?

make that three ...

3. Who does the graphics computation - on a headless machine accessed via a LAN? For ex: Can I run Xfree & a window manager on Mr. headless and launch a image editing app, or even a 3d game? What about a) the case when there is local graphics card but no monitor... b) No graphics monitor?

One last question ...

4. Can one do a remote install on these boxes without ever attaching keyb/mouse & monitor?

Looking forwards to your *Favorable* replies

THA

[gobbledegeek]

Correction: I meant ..
What about a) the case when there is local graphics card but no monitor... b) No graphics *monitor?* CARD...

My apologies...
Rgrds

[redge]

1. modify your host computer BIOS option:
disable error on:
Keyboard/Video/Mice
I don't remember symtom about no signal card if there no monitor attached to video card until very old computer like old Pentium I

2. Remote VNC install
[topic=2224][/topic]

[gobbledegeek]

1. modify your host computer BIOS option:
disable error on:
Keyboard/Video/Mice
I don't remember symtom about no signal card if there no monitor attached to video card until very old computer like old Pentium I

Yep thanks. It won't complain about no monitor?

2. Remote VNC install
[topic=2224][/topic]

Thats for remotely upgrading VNC server ...

I want to install linux/freebsd remotely...

[lizard]

excuse me but why did you come *here* first to ask that?
possible or not? booting without keyboard or mouse?
then how can you set up VNC on your empty system?
i've heard Solaris can handle X11 remote access on installation, don't know linux/BSD got such.
don't take it personally but maybe you could get better answers at linux/BSD forum, not here...

[ipsec]

not to mention.

we dont have a Nix option as of yet to be a server.

So Iintend to build my own ip over kvm on one pc to access the other two

If your intention is to use an existing KVM over VNC because you can hit Scroll Lock twice unfortunately KVM's are directly connected to the monitor and keyboard of the system(s) you have them connected to. This eludes to my point - the monitor only connected to that KVM will see the options, and the keyboard on the KVM can select the options... not someone remotely tapping keys... It may bring up the menu.. and possibly even allow you to switch options.. but you cant see it...

Sorry..... others have asked about the UVNC KVM options and I have tried it to just confirm and on mine it didnt work.

BTW - how is 14 bucks plus 10 bucks shipping too much for a 4 port KVM??

I guess if you want it to be IP enabled.. it does cost QUITE a bit more.. but ... then again... why wouldnt the $25.00 solution work??

[gobbledegeek]

Er this is win32 only... I think I want to unsubscribe... I'm feeling queasy... puke! sic!

Anyways Thanks for ur coperation guys... I might come back someday I want to repeat this trick with win32....

[ipsec]

Er this is win32 only... I think I want to unsubscribe... I'm feeling queasy... puke! sic!

Anyways Thanks for ur coperation guys... I might come back someday I want to repeat this trick with win32....

The devs will eventually cross over... but the viewer should be compatible with other versions .. like realvnc.. that I think has a nix server?? havent checked in a long while..