How to install GUI software on headless OS

[Vanit]

Hi All,

I developed one software which uses GUI(java swings) to install it.Now I want to install it on headless Linux(VMware vMA).

How can I install GUI application on vMA(headless os).

[jamesb]

Unless you install a GUI on vMA (wouldn't recommend that at all) then I don't see any way to do it.

Build another VM for the GUI app?

[powdarrmonkey]

WTF? you're installing GUI stuff on a headless machine? Whyyyyyyy?

Anyway, your question can't be answered without more detail.

[localzuk]

My suggestion would be to develop a different way of installing it. You shouldn't need a GUI to install a non-gui app, its just bad practice.

[Hightower]

Am I reading this right? Does the OP want to install an app that has a GUI (i.e. it has windows, and mouse clicks etc) on an OS that is text based (like Ubuntu server edition)?

Did I read that right?

[powdarrmonkey]

No, he's written an installer that relies on a mouse.

[Hightower]

No, he's written an installer that relies on a mouse.

How can I install GUI application on vMA(headless os).

[powdarrmonkey]

For your convenience:

I developed one software which uses GUI(java swings) to install it.Now I want to install it on headless Linux(VMware vMA).

Anyway, your question can't be answered without more detail.

[somabc]

Well you either install a GUI (X Windows etc) or you change the installer so you don't need a GUI. You can export the GUI part to a local running X-Server perhaps.

[jamesb]

Well you either install a GUI (X Windows etc) or you change the installer so you don't need a GUI. You can export the GUI part to a local running X-Server perhaps.

Given that vMA is a virtual appliance for managing ESXi, I really wouldn't recommend anyone try to install a GUI on it - just sounds like a recipe for disaster.

I also wouldn't see why you'd need to - you can do anything you want to do via vMA through PowerCLI or one of the APIs.

[Hightower]

I also wouldn't see why you'd need to - you can do anything you want to do via vMA through PowerCLI or one of the APIs.

Really? Can you run a GUI installer on it?

[jamesb]

Really? Can you run a GUI installer on it?

It somewhat raises the question of why you'd want to. Run the GUI installer on your local system and have your app set up to use whichever API you need.

[localzuk]

It somewhat raises the question of why you'd want to. Run the GUI installer on your local system and have your app set up to use whichever API you need.

I think the issue here is that the program is to be installed on that machine. The installer is the GUI. The OP didn't mention that the app itself was a GUI app.

There are many reasons to install an app direct onto the server.

[Hightower]

The OP didn't mention that the app itself was a GUI app..

But he did:

How can I install GUI application on vMA(headless os).

Whether the OP just mixed up his words, he is yet to say. But he has mentioned actually installing a GUI app.

[jamesb]

I think the issue here is that the program is to be installed on that machine. The installer is the GUI. The OP didn't mention that the app itself was a GUI app.

There are many reasons to install an app direct onto the server.

If the program is to be installed on that machine, then why was the installer built as a GUI?

I'm aware of the reasons to install an app directly on the server, however vMA is not a server, it is nothing more than a remote management console, an appliance. It'd be like trying to install a GUI application on your vyatta firewall (yes, I'm sure it can be done, I'm just struggling to find a reason why you would).