Graphical Console (beta)
caker
Linode Staff
What is the Graphical Console?
Glish, the graphical console, allows you to view and interact with your virtual machine's graphical output.
We expose the output to you through the Glish service. Glish is out of band, meaning it doesn't go through your Linode's networking. It runs completely outside of your Linode. It's similar to Lish, except instead of connecting to your Linode's serial port and being text, Glish connects to your Linode's graphics port and displays, you guessed it, raster graphics.
What is it good for?
It gives a "computer monitor" to your Linode.
Under Linux, it behaves just like any other Linux box would that has a monitor attached. Your virtual terminals can be displayed on Glish (tty1, for example). Or, a graphical environment can be configured to use the on-board graphics, and you'd have a remote desktop.
When using weird OSs: you'll see inside of Glish what you would see on a real computer's monitor. So, that glorious Windows 3.1 installation screen awaits you…
How do I use it?
The "Launch Graphical Web Console" link on the bottom of your Linode's "Remote Access" subtab. You'll need something inside of your Linode actually making graphical output for you to see anything.
How do I make my Linode generate graphical output?
We're now passing "console=tty1" (in addition to ttyS0) when booting our kernels, so you will see boot messages on both Lish and Glish on your next reboot. We've also changed the Distro Helper to enable a getty on tty1. You should see a getty login prompt on both Lish and Glish, after your next reboot.
Other than that, you're free to use the graphic device for whatever you see fit. Glish supports mode and size switching, too.
Are there any limitations?
* Glish works only with KVM Linodes. You can convert to KVM via the "Upgrade to KVM" button on the bottom right-hand side of your Linode's dashboard.
- The bandwidth consumed by Glish is currently free, however it is rate-limited.
Beta feedback is always appreciated!
-Chris
16 Replies
- Les
@akerl:
How does this interact with StackScripts, where the script is running "on" the getty at boot? Will it run only on the ttyS0?
- Les
StackScript code has been updated to ensure that it doesn't run multiple times across multiple TTYs
caker
Linode Staff
I'll let the guys chime in on its current implementation, but I believe right now it's "first one wins".
-Chris
@akerl:
How does this interact with StackScripts, where the script is running "on" the getty at boot? Will it run only on the ttyS0?
- Les
The StackScripts should run, they should run only once. It usually runs on ttyS0 in our tests, but it can run on tty1 depending on how upstart/systemd/sysvinit runs.
~~http://cloudsdale.ponix.space/~rainbow/glish.png
~~
Now back to your regularly scheduled AWESOME! \o/
- Your friendly neighborhood Weird OSes On Linodes girl!~~~~
@abemassry:
The StackScripts should run, they should run only once. It usually runs on ttyS0 in our tests, but it can run on tty1 depending on how upstart/systemd/sysvinit runs.
Can that be tweaked such that it explicitly runs on ttyS0/hvc0? I can imagine this works like plugging in a USB cable, where inevitably I look in the wrong spot first, and the wrong spot second, and then get it on the 3rd try.
- Les
@akerl:
@abemassry:The StackScripts should run, they should run only once. It usually runs on ttyS0 in our tests, but it can run on tty1 depending on how upstart/systemd/sysvinit runs.
Can that be tweaked such that it explicitly runs on ttyS0/hvc0? I can imagine this works like plugging in a USB cable, where inevitably I look in the wrong spot first, and the wrong spot second, and then get it on the 3rd try.
- Les
It can be tweaked such that it explicitly runs on ttyS0/hvc0 and it is something that we can look into in the future. There may be a few things you can try in your StackScript to ensure that they run on ttyS0, I'm going to try them out and let you know.
Edit: The post on HN says it's using something called noVNC but this is still pretty cool: Ref:
I've never seen a better web tty emulator.
~~
it does full screen, resizing, multiple ttys in tabs, copy and paste etc.~~
@cornbread:
Have you considered using some of guacamole?
https://github.com/glyptodon/ I've never seen a better web tty emulator.
https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/ass … 27596b.png">https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/assets/11197133/8215669/61b856a8-14e6-11e5-8e37-7874aa27596b.png " /> it does full screen, resizing, multiple ttys in tabs, copy and paste etc.
Linode's UI has had console TTY for a long time. What the announcement is about is the ability to run graphical applications and you don't have to install anything or mess with any special configuration to get it too work (IIRC, it's been a while since I tried it).~~
Invalid Session. Please try again from remote access tab
When I ssh into my shell I do see the tty1 getty:
-getty,6981 -8 38400 tty1
-getty,6984 -8 38400 ttyS0
@ingber:
I just tried Glish, from my Remote Access tab as instructed. I got a popup window with one line:
Invalid Session. Please try again from remote access tab
Same problem here. The VM is running Ubuntu 14.04. It has GUI since I can run graphical apps remotely (eg ssh -X).
The "plain" Lish terminal works, and I do see the ttyS0 when I do who command. But I never see the ttySn for the Glish instance.
Since others have gotten this working, I'm presuming there's just some config setting missing?
Thanks.
Lester
@ingber:
It seems the console is coming up now. However, the userID is assumed and a password is required to login. Can this be changed to permit a different user to login, e.g., root?
Thanks.
Lester
The display is looking good! However, my mouse does not seem to work.
Lester