Can an X server run without a physical screen?

Question

We need to run an application using the graphic card driver.

However the machine does not have a screen. Is it possible to have this running ?

Xfvb seems not be an option since it uses software rendering instead of the graphic card driver.

Thanks for your suggestions/answers.

You need to be more specific what you want to do with the "graphics card driver". — ypnos, Aug 09 '11 at 18:11
A graphic card driver will not function without a graphic card. It is however rare for an X app to be aware of drivers. Do you really need it? — n. m. could be an AI, Aug 09 '11 at 18:33

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 09 '11 at 18:20

Check out the VNC module for X. You can load it by editing your xorg.conf:

Section "Module"
    Load "vnc"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Option "SecurityTypes" "None"
EndSection

It will connect X to the network instead of to a physical screen, and it supposedly supports hardware acceleration with some drivers.

1 Answers1