OK, I'm inviting trouble here but bear with me.
I run an old desktop PC, headless as a file/webserver. My wife's PC backs up to it and I mirror most of my desktop on it using Nextcloud. My only previous experience with web servers has been running Wordpress etc on hosted platforms whee all the setup stuff is done via Cpanel. No Cpanel on my DIY server though so to make life easier it runs a desktop distro (currently Lubuntu) and VNC. I can do any admin via KRDC from my desktop.
During set up all this works OK, but the Lubuntu desktop goes blank after a few minutes inactivity, KRDC connects fine but all I see is black screen. The only way I can find to get back in is to reboot (using SSH), restart VNC then re-connect KRDC before the blackout kicks in.
A while ago I did this and tried to find a setting to keep the screen alive for ever, as there's no actual screen attached it would make little difference to power consumption. I thought I'd found it, but obviously not as it still blanks. Anyone got any idea?
I'm not totally averse to CLI work, providing it's a simple command to solve a specific issue like this, but I really don't want to learn how to do everything I need to do on the server that way!
-- Phil Thane
www.pthane.co.uk phil@pthane.co.uk 01767 449759 07582 750607 Twitter @pthane
On Wed, 11 Oct 2017 21:04:42 +0100 Phil Thane phil@pthane.co.uk allegedly wrote:
OK, I'm inviting trouble here but bear with me.
:-)
[ snip ]
I'm not totally averse to CLI work, providing it's a simple command to solve a specific issue like this, but I really don't want to learn how to do everything I need to do on the server that way!
If you want to avoid the command line, how about installing webmin?
Mick
--------------------------------------------------------------------- Mick Morgan gpg fingerprint: FC23 3338 F664 5E66 876B 72C0 0A1F E60B 5BAD D312 http://baldric.net
---------------------------------------------------------------------
On 11/10/17 21:04, Phil Thane wrote:
OK, I'm inviting trouble here but bear with me.
I run an old desktop PC, headless as a file/webserver. My wife's PC backs up to it and I mirror most of my desktop on it using Nextcloud. My only previous experience with web servers has been running Wordpress etc on hosted platforms whee all the setup stuff is done via Cpanel. No Cpanel on my DIY server though so to make life easier it runs a desktop distro (currently Lubuntu) and VNC. I can do any admin via KRDC from my desktop.
During set up all this works OK, but the Lubuntu desktop goes blank after a few minutes inactivity, KRDC connects fine but all I see is black screen. The only way I can find to get back in is to reboot (using SSH), restart VNC then re-connect KRDC before the blackout kicks in.
A while ago I did this and tried to find a setting to keep the screen alive for ever, as there's no actual screen attached it would make little difference to power consumption. I thought I'd found it, but obviously not as it still blanks. Anyone got any idea?
I'm not totally averse to CLI work, providing it's a simple command to solve a specific issue like this, but I really don't want to learn how to do everything I need to do on the server that way!
Uninstall XScreensaver and/or Light-locker, or look at their settings to disable screensaver. Look at power manager (which sometimes you can get to through the above), to disable power down screen/display.
I have an old RaspberryPi running Lubuntu and that has the screen blank after a period of activity. I found once on the RaspberryPi forums a message about how to disable it - it said it was quite complicated - there was a gdi screensaver (xscreensaver or lightlocker), but also a "X11" level screensaver. You have to disable both. I suggest looking for something similar on the Raspberry Pi forums.
That said, I can connect to my pi after the screen has gone off via VNC, and I have a server running XUbuntu without a problem - just press space or move the mouse. Actually, thinking about it, I had to disable/uninstall Light-Locker on my laptop because it would not wake up - I replaced it with XScreensaver.
Hope this helps.
Steve
On Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 09:04:42PM +0100, Phil Thane wrote:
OK, I'm inviting trouble here but bear with me.
I run an old desktop PC, headless as a file/webserver. My wife's PC backs up to it and I mirror most of my desktop on it using Nextcloud. My only previous experience with web servers has been running Wordpress etc on hosted platforms whee all the setup stuff is done via Cpanel. No Cpanel on my DIY server though so to make life easier it runs a desktop distro (currently Lubuntu) and VNC. I can do any admin via KRDC from my desktop.
During set up all this works OK, but the Lubuntu desktop goes blank after a few minutes inactivity, KRDC connects fine but all I see is black screen. The only way I can find to get back in is to reboot (using SSH), restart VNC then re-connect KRDC before the blackout kicks in.
A while ago I did this and tried to find a setting to keep the screen alive for ever, as there's no actual screen attached it would make little difference to power consumption. I thought I'd found it, but obviously not as it still blanks. Anyone got any idea?
I'm not totally averse to CLI work, providing it's a simple command to solve a specific issue like this, but I really don't want to learn how to do everything I need to do on the server that way!
What programs do you run to administer the server?
You don't really need the whole desktop do you? If not then you can run GUI programs on your desktop using ssh and X, e.g.:-
chris$ ssh -X esprimo chris@esprimo$ sqliteman Checking for sqlite3 : 3.11.0 2016-02-15 17:29:24 3d862f207e3adc00f78066799ac5a8c282430a5f Checking for Qt version: 4.8.7 Initial DB: "" chris@esprimo$
This runs sqliteman on the *server* using your desktop for display, the same can be done with just about any GUI program.
Mostly I just use the file manager, sometimes a web-browser rather than downloading something on the desktop and transferring it.
I think I'm going to have to start from scratch though, somehow I've managed to lock myself out of Nextcloud and can't get back in without the MariaDB/SQL details, which were on a piece of paper that disappeared when we moved house!
Using the file manager a few days ago I copied the Nextcloud Data directory tp /home/phil with a view to re-installing the database and Nextcloud then putting the data back rather than re-syncing from the desktop which takes ages. Unfortunately I didn't check disk space, so now nothing works, not even VNC! I can still SSH into it so will delete the data backup and see if that gives me some control back, otherwise I can see a fresh install coming on.
The SSH X thing looks useful, not seen that before, I'll give it a go. Thanks.
-- Phil Thane
www.pthane.co.uk phil@pthane.co.uk 01767 449759 07582 750607 Twitter @pthane On Thursday, 12 October 2017 09:58:33 BST Chris Green wrote:
On Wed, Oct 11, 2017 at 09:04:42PM +0100, Phil Thane wrote:
OK, I'm inviting trouble here but bear with me.
I run an old desktop PC, headless as a file/webserver. My wife's PC backs up to it and I mirror most of my desktop on it using Nextcloud. My only previous experience with web servers has been running Wordpress etc on hosted platforms whee all the setup stuff is done via Cpanel. No Cpanel on my DIY server though so to make life easier it runs a desktop distro (currently Lubuntu) and VNC. I can do any admin via KRDC from my desktop.
During set up all this works OK, but the Lubuntu desktop goes blank after a few minutes inactivity, KRDC connects fine but all I see is black screen. The only way I can find to get back in is to reboot (using SSH), restart VNC then re-connect KRDC before the blackout kicks in.
A while ago I did this and tried to find a setting to keep the screen alive for ever, as there's no actual screen attached it would make little difference to power consumption. I thought I'd found it, but obviously not as it still blanks. Anyone got any idea?
I'm not totally averse to CLI work, providing it's a simple command to solve a specific issue like this, but I really don't want to learn how to do everything I need to do on the server that way!
What programs do you run to administer the server?
You don't really need the whole desktop do you? If not then you can run GUI programs on your desktop using ssh and X, e.g.:-
chris$ ssh -X esprimo chris@esprimo$ sqliteman Checking for sqlite3 : 3.11.0 2016-02-15 17:29:24 3d862f207e3adc00f78066799ac5a8c282430a5f Checking for Qt version: 4.8.7 Initial DB: "" chris@esprimo$This runs sqliteman on the *server* using your desktop for display, the same can be done with just about any GUI program.
On 12/10/17 14:15, Phil Thane wrote: [snip]
I think I'm going to have to start from scratch though, somehow I've managed to lock myself out of Nextcloud and can't get back in without the MariaDB/SQL details, which were on a piece of paper that disappeared when we moved house!
hope you fix it.
[snip]
The SSH X thing looks useful, not seen that before, I'll give it a go. Thanks.
SSH -X *IS* useful, BUT, it is regarded as a security risk. You have to specifically edit your sshd config file to allow it.
A quick google found this https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/14815/security-concerns-with-x1... however there may be many more. Google "ssh x11 forwarding risk" or similar. (The -X means x11 forwarding.)
If you're inside a secure network and your client is as secure as your server, I wouldn't have thought that there was a problem, but I think the consensus is that it could be, which is why it's disabled by default.
Hope that helps.
Steve
On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 10:24:46PM +0100, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:
On 12/10/17 14:15, Phil Thane wrote: [snip]
I think I'm going to have to start from scratch though, somehow I've managed to lock myself out of Nextcloud and can't get back in without the MariaDB/SQL details, which were on a piece of paper that disappeared when we moved house!
hope you fix it.
[snip]
The SSH X thing looks useful, not seen that before, I'll give it a go. Thanks.
SSH -X *IS* useful, BUT, it is regarded as a security risk. You have to specifically edit your sshd config file to allow it.
Only a risk if you allow ssh from outside, within your own LAN, presumably, all users are trusted.
A quick google found this https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/14815/security-concerns-with-x1... however there may be many more. Google "ssh x11 forwarding risk" or similar. (The -X means x11 forwarding.)
If you're inside a secure network and your client is as secure as your server, I wouldn't have thought that there was a problem, but I think the consensus is that it could be, which is why it's disabled by default.
It's surely only if the 'local' network that you can ssh around has lots of users who shouldn't be able to access each others files/systems.
"Only a risk if you allow ssh from outside, within your own LAN, presumably, all users are trusted."
In these days of the Internet-of-cheap-Chinese-crap, that's not necessarily a good presumption.
-- Sent from my Psion 5MX Original Message From: Chris Green Sent: Friday, 13 October 2017 09:03 To: main@lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [ALUG] wake up GUI
On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 10:24:46PM +0100, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:
On 12/10/17 14:15, Phil Thane wrote: [snip]
I think I'm going to have to start from scratch though, somehow I've managed to lock myself out of Nextcloud and can't get back in without the MariaDB/SQL details, which were on a piece of paper that disappeared when we moved house!
hope you fix it.
[snip]
The SSH X thing looks useful, not seen that before, I'll give it a go. Thanks.
SSH -X *IS* useful, BUT, it is regarded as a security risk. You have to specifically edit your sshd config file to allow it.
Only a risk if you allow ssh from outside, within your own LAN, presumably, all users are trusted.
A quick google found this https://security.stackexchange.com/questions/14815/security-concerns-with-x1... however there may be many more. Google "ssh x11 forwarding risk" or similar. (The -X means x11 forwarding.)
If you're inside a secure network and your client is as secure as your server, I wouldn't have thought that there was a problem, but I think the consensus is that it could be, which is why it's disabled by default.
It's surely only if the 'local' network that you can ssh around has lots of users who shouldn't be able to access each others files/systems.
On Fri, Oct 13, 2017 at 09:13:06AM +0000, Huge wrote:
"Only a risk if you allow ssh from outside, within your own LAN, presumably, all users are trusted."
In these days of the Internet-of-cheap-Chinese-crap, that's not necessarily a good presumption.
But in that case your LAN is insecure in all sorts of other ways as well which are probably much more likely to be exploited than X.
Oh, well, that's all right, then.
-- Sent from my Psion 5MX Original Message From: Chris Green Sent: Friday, 13 October 2017 09:24 To: main@lists.alug.org.uk Subject: Re: [ALUG] wake up GUI
On Fri, Oct 13, 2017 at 09:13:06AM +0000, Huge wrote:
"Only a risk if you allow ssh from outside, within your own LAN, presumably, all users are trusted."
In these days of the Internet-of-cheap-Chinese-crap, that's not necessarily a good presumption.
But in that case your LAN is insecure in all sorts of other ways as well which are probably much more likely to be exploited than X.
-
Chris Green -
Huge -
mick -
Phil Thane -
steve-ALUG＠hst.me.uk