Just to make it clear, xvfb is still being used:
https://github.com/Unidata/idv-test/blob/master/starttest.sh#L19
https://github.com/Unidata/Unidata-Dockerfiles/blob/master/idv/startidv.sh#L21
> On 20150918, at 3:09 PM, Julien Chastang <chastang@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> We use docker for this sort of thing now. For example, see
>
> http://unidata-idvtest.cloudapp.net/compare.html.
>
> This is the output of our nightly IDV "headless" testing, running in
> the cloud using docker,
>
> Here is how you can do this with Docker.
>
> 1. Install Docker. Better yet, use a system that has docker already. I
> think docker comes "out of the box" on Linux these days. It is also
> available on VMs from cloud providers if you have access to those
> resources.
>
> 2. docker run -v ~/foobar/:/home/idv/scratch -p 5901:5901 -it
> unidata/idv-gui ./scratch/startidv.sh
>
> The foobar directory is on your host system (which is mounted to
> /home/idv/scratch in the container). It should contain these 3 example
> files
>
> https://gist.github.com/julienchastang/5520ce562cdbe653ea87
>
> batch.xidv is a regular/vanilla idv bundle
> foo.isl and startidv.sh should be scrutinized, but will run as is.
>
> Running the docker container above should generate a test.png file w/
> global GFS data.
>
> It is worth looking at the Dockerfiles (and ancillary) files as they
> "codify" the process of running the IDV in headless mode. Even if you
> don't want to use docker, there are a lot if hints therein
>
> https://github.com/Unidata/idv-test
> https://github.com/Unidata/Unidata-Dockerfiles/idv
>
> My colleague Ward Fisher at Unidata figured out the IDV running
> headless in a Docker container so thanks to him.
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 12:01 PM, Juan Figueroa
> <juanfigueroa@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> Hi David, i think i have you want im using isl script but with shell script
>> programs (scripts) to run via crontab to generate satellite imagery see
>> what i say in: http://bit.ly/1Kx2Jck but all "magic" to generate that is a
>> combination of linux scripts and McIDAS-V, brother software of IDV.
>>
>> For more information about that: http://bit.ly/1W8EG7D (In spanish, sorry)
>>
>> 2015-09-18 17:13 GMT+00:00 David P Dempsey <dempsey@xxxxxxxx>:
>>
>>> IDV Users,
>>>
>>> If anyone is running the IDV “headlessly” to generate images (for a Web
>>> server, for example), I’d like to pick your brain!
>>>
>>> I’m trying to run IDV v5.2 under Mac OS X v.10.8 (Snow Leopard) to
>>> generate GIF images for a Web server. In particular, I’m trying to use my
>>> server’s LDM to run the IDV automatically when the LDM receives certain
>>> weather data via the IDD. As I understand it, this process occurs
>>> “headlessly”--that is, without requiring or using a local interface
>>> (keyboard, monitor, or mouse, though my server has all three).
>>>
>>> My IDV bundle, which is executed through an ISL (IDV scripting language)
>>> script via the IDV installation’s runIDV script, works fine when I execute
>>> it on my server manually (that is, using the server’s keyboard and a
>>> Terminal window directly).
>>>
>>> However, when the the LDM triggers the same command when it receives
>>> certain weather data via the IDD, the job fails with a
>>> java.awt.HeadlessException message. The same thing happens when I log onto
>>> the server remotely using ssh and try to run the same job (below).
>>>
>>> My server had been running Java v.7 but I upgraded to Java v.8—the results
>>> are the same; it runs X11 (XQuartz v.2.7.7) continuously; and it is
>>> continuously logged onto the account that runs the LDM and IDV. I have X11
>>> Forwarding enabled.
>>>
>>> Some messages from the IDV when I try to execute my GIF-generating bundle
>>> (RadarSummary.xidv) and ISL script when logged onto my server remotely
>>> using ssh:
>>>
>>> Fri Sep 18 09:54:41 PDT 2015: Loading bundle: RadarSummary.xidv
>>> 3D [dev] 1.6.0-pre9-daily-experimental daily
>>>
>>> ERROR: Error loading bundle: RadarSummary.xidv
>>> java.awt.HeadlessException
>>> java.awt.HeadlessException
>>> at javax.media.j3d.VirtualUniverse.<clinit>(VirtualUniverse.java:269)
>>> at javax.media.j3d.Canvas3D.<clinit>(Canvas3D.java:3806)
>>> at visad.java3d.DisplayImplJ3D.initialize(DisplayImplJ3D.java:405)
>>> at visad.java3d.DisplayImplJ3D.<init>(DisplayImplJ3D.java:289)
>>> at visad.java3d.DisplayImplJ3D.<init>(DisplayImplJ3D.java:276)
>>> etc.
>>>
>>> Am I going to have to install and run a virtual frame bugger like Xvfb?
>>>
>>> Any insight or suggestions that I can get will be welcome—I’ve come up
>>> empty in my attempts to forage among online forums, and the last reference
>>> to running the IDV headlessly was in 2010, for Linux systems.
>>>
>>> — Dave
>>>
>>> ***************************************************************
>>> * Dr. Dave Dempsey, Chair | ^ ___ \|/ *
>>> * Dept. of Earth & Climate Sciences | ) ^ /||_||\ —-0—- *
>>> * San Francisco State University | ) ) / ||_|| \ /|\ *
>>> * 1600 Holloway Ave. | ) ) / ||_|| \ *
>>> * San Francisco, CA 94132 | ) ) / ||_|| \ ^ *
>>> * | ) ) ) ||_|| \ *
>>> * Phone: (415) 338-7716 | ) ) )~~||~||~~~~~\~~ *
>>> * FAX: (415) 338-7705 | ) ) ) ) ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ *
>>> * Email: dempsey@xxxxxxxx<mailto:dempsey@xxxxxxxx> | ) ) )
>>> ) ) ~ ~ ~ ~ *
>>> ***************************************************************
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> idvusers mailing list
>>> idvusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> For list information, to unsubscribe, visit:
>>> http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/mailing_lists/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> *- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -*
>>
>> * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **Juan José Amides
>> Figueroa Urbano*
>>
>> *Técnico Meteorólogo*
>> *Servicio Meteorológico Nacional*
>>
>>
>> *Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de El Salvador.*
>> *jn 3:16*
>> _______________________________________________
>> idvusers mailing list
>> idvusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> For list information, to unsubscribe, visit:
>> http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/mailing_lists/
>
>
>
> --
> Julien Chastang
> Scientific Software Developer
> Unidata-UCAR
>
> _______________________________________________
> idvusers mailing list
> idvusers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> For list information, to unsubscribe, visit:
> http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/mailing_lists/
