launch x11vnc on bootup

Question

I am using archlinux version 3.10.27-1-ARCH on my remote PC and I would like it to launch x11vnc server on successful bootup. Though i can start the x11vnc server manually, I am having trouble starting it up automatically. The configuration of /etc/systemd/system/x11vnc.service is as follows

[Unit]
Description=VNC Server for X11
Requires=graphical.target
After=graphical.target

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/x11vnc -display :0 -nopw

The status of the service using command:systemctl status x11vnc

x11vnc.service - VNC Server for X11
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/x11vnc.service; enabled)
   Active: inactive (dead)

And the dBus output of command: dmesg|grep x11vnc

[    5.467201] systemd[1]: Found dependency on x11vnc.service/start
[    5.467285] systemd[1]: Breaking ordering cycle by deleting job x11vnc.service/start
[    5.467335] systemd[1]: Job x11vnc.service/start deleted to break ordering cycle starting with graphical.target/start

I do feel from the dmesg output there is a cyclic dependency, but I am not able to understand what.

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 22 '14 at 00:45

I found this thread which shows a similar task of setting up x11vnc as a Systemd service. The thread is titled: Index» Newbie Corner» how to enable x11vnc at startup using systemd ?.

From a comment in that thread

Create the file: /etc/systemd/system/x11vnc.service

[Unit]
Description=VNC Server for X11
Requires=display-manager.service
After=display-manager.service

[Service]
Type=forking
ExecStart=/usr/bin/x11vnc -norc -forever -shared -bg -rfbauth /etc/x11vnc.pass -allow 192.168.1. -autoport 5900 -o /var/log/x11vnc.log

Create the file: /etc/systemd/system/graphical.target

#  This file is part of systemd.
#
#  systemd is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
#  under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
#  the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the License, or
#  (at your option) any later version.

[Unit]
Description=Graphical Interface
Documentation=man:systemd.special(7)
Requires=multi-user.target
After=multi-user.target
Conflicts=rescue.target
Wants=display-manager.service
Wants=x11vnc.service
AllowIsolate=yes

[Install]
Alias=default.target

Enable Systemd service
```
$ sudo systemctl enable graphical.target
```
This should create a link like this:

/etc/systemd/system/default.target -> /etc/systemd/system/graphical.target
Reboot

Thanks for your answer. Though I did see the link earlier during my google searches, I did not try it for some reason. I edited my `x11vnc.service` with yours as starting point, and now the x11vnc server starts up automatically on bootup — zeena, Jan 22 '14 at 22:36
@zeena - That wonderful news, glad this resolved your issue, thanks for the Q! — slm, Jan 22 '14 at 23:05

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 22 '14 at 22:50

Just for closure, the x11vnc.service that made it happen for me is as follows

[Unit]
Description=VNC Server for X11  
Requires=display-manager.service
After=display-manager.service

[Service]
Type=forking
ExecStart=/usr/bin/x11vnc -norc -forever -shared -bg -rfbauth /etc/x11vnc.pass -autoport 5900 -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -auth /var/run/slim.auth

the graphical.target and steps are identical to answer given by slm above.

launch x11vnc on bootup

2 Answers2