I'm running Ubuntu 10.10 x64 on my Linode, and ssh -Y into it from my home pc. I get x-windows fine, e.g., `xclock` works fine.

I have installed what I believe is a complete gnome desktop on my server, but I cannot get `gnome-control-center` or `startx` to work, even under root; see below.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Lester

root@lin:~# gnome-control-center

** (gnome-control-center:26695): WARNING **:
error raised: [libslab_get_gconf_value: error getting /desktop/gnome/applications/main-menu/lock-down/user_modifiable_apps]


** (gnome-control-center:26695): WARNING **:
error raised: [load_xbel_store: couldn't load bookmark file [NULL]
]


** (gnome-control-center:26695): WARNING **: get_actions_list() - PROBLEM - Can't load gtk-theme-selector.desktop


** (gnome-control-center:26695): WARNING **: get_actions_list() - PROBLEM - Can't load gnome-cups-manager.desktop

NOTE: I do get the pop-up Control Center window, but I cannot do anything. For example, I can click on Users and Groups, but a grayed out command window for Users Settings appears, with problems cited on the console:

GLib-GIO-Message: Using the 'memory' GSettings backend. Your settings will not be saved or shared with other applications.


root@lin:~# startx


X.Org X Server 1.9.0
Release Date: 2010-08-20
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux 2.6.24-27-server x86_64 Ubuntu
Current Operating System: Linux lin 2.6.35.4-x86_64-linode16 #1 SMP Mon Sep 20 16:03:34 UTC 2010 x86_64
Kernel command line: root=/dev/xvda xencons=tty console=tty1 console=hvc0 nosep nodevfs ramdisk_size=32768 ip_conntrack.hashsize=8192 nf_conntrack.hashsize=8192 ro
Build Date: 16 September 2010 06:18:41PM
xorg-server 2:1.9.0-0ubuntu7 (For technical support please see http://www.ubuntu.com/support)
Current version of pixman: 0.18.4
Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Dec 27 07:58:22 2010
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
Primary device is not PCI
(EE) open /dev/fb0: No such file or directory
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log

_________________
http://www.ingber.com

Just in case nobody here has done this on a linode, this isn't likely to be a linode specific problem, so you could try to find some gnome forums. Running this on a linode shouldn't be any different from running on any remote machine.

========== on my client I SSH tunnel into my Linode:

#!/bin/sh

ssh -l myuserid -p 22 -L 127.0.0.1:5934:127.0.0.1:5901 <Linode-IP-Here>

========== once logged in I run VNC server with this:

#!/bin/sh

vncserver :01 -rfbport 5901 -geometry 1280x1024 -nevershared -securitytypes=none -localhost -depth 16
sleep 10
xhost + $HOSTNAME

============== server - this is my .vnc/xstartup script

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
#xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
#twm &
#fvwm &
gnome-session &

============= client - I use Terminal Services in the repo and connect with:

127.0.0.1:5934

Feel free to make port 5934 whatever you want just change the SSH tunnel line to match.