linux

Notes on Linux related things

Running Ubuntu 20.04 Desktop headless on an old Mac Mini (2009 Core Duo)

Make the Mac Mini boot into a Desktop manager (GUI) without a monitor attached.

The Mac Mini with Ubuntu will not boot into the Desktop GUI unless a monitor is attached.

Solution: Make the Mac Mini think a monitor is attached using the solution posted by Nick O'Neill. I used 100 ohm resistors and it works fine. This is the Mac monitor port to VGA dongle that came with the Mac Mini, into which I inserted 100 ohm resistors, one resistor between pins 1 and 6, one between 2 and 7, and one between 3 and 8.
Enable vino-server in Ubuntu
- From the desktop, run Settings > Sharing.
- Click Screen Sharing.
- Slide the switch in the upper left corner of the Screen Sharing window to the right to enable.
- Check Allowed connections to control the screen.
- Select Require a password.
- Create a password for VNC access.
- Close the Screen Sharing window.
Copy the xrandr.sh script into /usr/local/bin/. The xrandr.sh script is from chirag64.
Make it executable
```
 chmod +x xrandr.sh
```
As root (sudo), open /usr/lib/systemd/user/vino-server.service in an editor

Add a ExecStartPre=... line as shown after the ExecStart=... line, so the file looks like this (change resolution and frequency as needed):

 [Unit]
 Description=Vino VNC server
 
 [Service]
 Type=dbus
 BusName=org.gnome.Vino
 ExecStart=/usr/lib/vino/vino-server
 ExecStartPre=-/usr/local/bin/xrandr.sh 1920 1080 60
 Restart=on-abnormal

As root (sudo), open /etc/gdm3/custom.conf in an editor.
Locate the # Enabling automatic login line and uncomment the 2 lines after it so it looks like this (change the username to the user you want to have autologin):
```
 # Enabling automatic login
 AutomaticLoginEnable = true
 AutomaticLogin = steve
```
Reboot.
Use RealVNC viewer to connect to your Mac Mini by name or IP address.

AG7GN/linux

linux

Running Ubuntu 20.04 Desktop headless on an old Mac Mini (2009 Core Duo)