VNC Failure

Software
1

I had a previously working Oram/Pi5 headless system that I started to have problems with the EngineUI VNC connection with. I decided to create a new SD card and start over. Now I am getting a general VNC failure.

********************************************* UI Log ***************************************

Aug 05 15:33:35 zynthian startx[5094]: at http://wiki.x.org
Aug 05 15:33:35 zynthian startx[5094]: for help.
Aug 05 15:33:35 zynthian startx[5094]: (EE) Please also check the log file at “/var/log/Xorg.0.log” for additional information.
Aug 05 15:33:35 zynthian startx[5094]: (EE)
Aug 05 15:33:35 zynthian startx[5094]: (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.
Aug 05 15:33:50 zynthian startx[5093]: xinit: giving up
Aug 05 15:33:50 zynthian startx[5093]: xinit: unable to connect to X server: Connection refused
Aug 05 15:33:50 zynthian startx[5093]: xinit: server error
Aug 05 15:33:50 zynthian systemd[1]: zynthian.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 05 15:33:50 zynthian systemd[1]: zynthian.service: Failed with result ‘exit-code’.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian systemd[1]: zynthian.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 15.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian systemd[1]: Stopped zynthian.service - Zynthian User Interface.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian systemd[1]: Started zynthian.service - Zynthian User Interface.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: X.Org X Server 1.21.1.7
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Current Operating System: Linux zynthian 6.6.28+rpt-rpi-2712 #1 SMP PREEMPT Debian 1:6.6.28-1+rpt1 (2024-04-22) aarch64
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Kernel command line: reboot=w coherent_pool=1M 8250.nr_uarts=1 pci=pcie_bus_safe snd_bcm2835.enable_compat_alsa=0 snd_bcm2835.enable_hdmi=1 bcm2708_fb.fbwidth=640 bcm2708_fb.fbheight=480 bcm2708_fb.fbdepth=16 bcm2708_fb.fbswap=1 smsc95xx.macaddr=D8:3A:DD:C0:80:F4 vc_mem.mem_base=0x3fc00000 vc_mem.mem_size=0x40000000 root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rootfstype=ext4 fsck.repair=yes rootwait console=tty1 logo.nologo modules-load=dwc2,libcomposite
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: xorg-server 2:21.1.7-3+rpt2+deb12u7 (Debian -- User Support)
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Current version of pixman: 0.42.2
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: to make sure that you have the latest version.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Markers: (–) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (==) Log file: “/var/log/Xorg.0.log”, Time: Mon Aug 5 15:33:55 2024
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (==) Using config directory: “/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d”
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (==) Using system config directory “/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d”
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE)
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Fatal server error:
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE) no screens found(EE)
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE)
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: at http://wiki.x.org
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: for help.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE) Please also check the log file at “/var/log/Xorg.0.log” for additional information.
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE)
Aug 05 15:33:55 zynthian startx[5148]: (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.

**************************** Webconf Output = HARDWARE **************************************
(note - I get the same behaviour with generic HDMI selected for display)

Raspberry Pi 5 Model B Rev 1.0
Audio: Behringer UCA222
Display: Custom Device
Wiring: DUMMIES
I2C: Not detected
Profile:

SYSTEM

Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Build Date: 2024-06-26
Memory: 9% (388M/4045M)
SD Card: 6% (13G/235G)
Temperature: 48.8ºC
Overclock: None

MIDI & UI

Tuning: 440 Hz
Master Channel: Off
Preload Presets: On
ZS3 (SubSnapShots): On
Power Save: 1000 minutes
Audio Levels on Snapshots: On

SOFTWARE

zyncoder: oram (62626a8)
zynthian-ui: oram (9600ef4)
zynthian-sys: oram (5affa51)
zynthian-data: oram (e222e11)
zynthian-webconf: oram (0327ac4)

LIBRARY

Snapshots: 12
User Presets: 1
User Soundfonts: 0
Audio Captures: 0
MIDI Captures: 0

NETWORK

Hostname: zynthian
Wifi: ON
IP: 192.168.0.98
VNC: On
MIDI Services:

Suggestions appreciated

Harry

2

Can you give any more specifics about the symptoms of these problems?

3

Only “terminal” appearing as an interface.

image

4

Do you have the advanced options box checked in webconf? I forget exactly what it’s called but it’s something like that and you have to turn it on. I’m not at a Zynthian webconf right now.

5

“Advanced View” is selected in all configuration screens.

6

hmmmm, he said, grasping at straws, have you rebooted after turning on Advanced View?

7

Rebooted many times…

8

Please show us the content of this log file.

9

I am having the same problem with my Pi5 headless setup. VNC is only showing in webconf and only working, when i have a display plugged into the Pi.

10

I haven’t been able to get ssh, scp, etc. working between my PC and Pi5 and, using nano, can’t seem to capture the terminal output and paste it to my PC. I’ll sort this out eventually but right now can’t get the text of /var/log/Xorg.0.log to post. Giving it a quick eyeball it seems to pretty much say what the UI log I posted says. Maybe I can capture it this weekend…

11

OK - I’ve got the scenario to where it’s repeatable. With generic HDMI screen attached both UI’s startup fine. With no HDMI screen attached the VNC server (AFAICT) fails to start. I’ll submit a bug report shortly.

1 Like
12

/var/log/Xorg.0.log with no HDMI monitor attached

Xorg.0.log (6.1 KB)

2 Likes
13

There are two VNC servers that run on zynthian. One of them creates a virtual screen and presents it via VNC. This has the desktop and plugins’ native GUIs. The other VNC server mirrors the main zynthian UI, hence relies on there already being a display to mimic. It sounds like the UI VNC server is not able to bind to the main UI if there isn’t a physical screen. Indeed, the main zynthian application does not start in this scenario so there is nothing for VNC to bind to.

Maybe we could detect such a failure (missing physical screen) and start zynthian with a virtual screen, or maybe offer a configuration in webconf for virtual screen, i.e. zynthian starts but displays its UI on a virtual (VNC only) screen, similar to the desktop. This would probably mean that this config would only work if VNC is enabled, which we actively discourage - but that may be exactly what the user wants in this scenario.

I don’t think @jofemodo or I tend to have a RPi without a screen for testing. I guess we could build one…

14

Hi,
Xorg server complain because he can’t find the framebuffer.
How did you configure the display in webconf ?
I remember having done some test last month with an headless setup ane it sas working fine.
I may have some spare time this afternoon To try it again.

15

On my Pi3b, in headless mode, with a mostly up to date zynthian and by choosing “Generic HDMI/DSI display” in Hardware->Display, VNC works in both engines and UI views.

16

I’m on a Pi5/Oram and have the same result with either generic HDMI or custom device. Haven’t tried any others as none make particular sense to try. I do seem to recall that this was working fine several updates ago but not 100% sure.