Running streamserver headless

[Alronix]

Hello.

I have tried using my gaming-PC as server and my work-laptop as client. This has worked impressively well. I haven't tinkered much with it, but the result was impressive.

When I tried controlling the server with RDP, and not using the screen connected to it, I ran into problems. Steam requires the host to have a screen connected, and if it's not it reports that the screen is locked. This also means that the host have to be kept logged on windows, and can not sleep while not being used.

Anyone know a good solution for this? My plans are to put a powerful host/server on the attic, and control everything from a Intel NUC by my TV. But for this I have to be able to remotely control the host.

The ideal would be to install steam as a service on the host, and have it run completely without a screen connected or even a windows-user logged on...

[TNT oz]

The way I believe streaming works at the moment, is that it records the game being played through steam, then encodes the video, and sends it across the network to another client computer.

So it seems the only way to stream now is to have an actual computer that could be set up to play the game normally, except the picture and controls are being sent to a client computer

I guess you will need to wait and see what the future hold for streaming services

[NeptNutz]

I built a FrankenSteam box expressly for this purpose, but I already knew about the screen requirement. I have been able to start streaming from the living room panel even with it turned off but still connected. I'm pretty sure disconnecting or booting without a screen would not stream.

Additionally, I've noticed the mode of the host screen has a significant impact on available screen reolutions on the client. For example, when I stream from the 1440x900 desktop, I have smaller resultant screens on my client side.

If you could find a way to spoof a 1920x1080 head (or whatever size you prefer) for $50 or something, that would definitely seem to be the way to go for now.

[reinz.dev]

This one sounds prominissing
http://www.amazon.com/CompuLab-fit-Headless-computer-display-emulator/dp/B00FLZXGJ6

edit: i could need something like this too, but this emulator is not available in my region

[majorgoo]

TBH, I'd recommend using VNC to control your computer so you control the console session and don't utilise RDP. The console will remain unlocked then, and you will not have that problem. Ps. I work managing circa 400 microsoft servers, so this one I know.

[NeptNutz]

Originally posted by reinz.dev:

This one sounds prominissing
http://www.amazon.com/CompuLab-fit-Headless-computer-display-emulator/dp/B00FLZXGJ6

edit: i could need something like this too, but this emulator is not available in my region

Wow, that's amazing! Nice Find! Suddenly, I feel a magnetic pull from my mouse.

[Ricky]

that doesnt fix it for the ones who have a monitor and simply want to play with it turned off tho =p

[Osme]

@reinz.dev

You can short pins together (Thats what the connector does). http://rumorscity.com/2013/12/06/how-to-create-dummy-plugs-for-your-graphics-cards/ was just a quick search. May want to find something more knowledgeable yourself.

[pickled pixels]

Originally posted by majorgoo:

TBH, I'd recommend using VNC to control your computer so you control the console session and don't utilise RDP. The console will remain unlocked then, and you will not have that problem. Ps. I work managing circa 400 microsoft servers, so this one I know.

I'm currently using Windows RDP to control my headless host and `tscon.exe 1 /dest:console` to unlock the screen. This VNC stuff sounds amazing though.

[XÆЯO_Vince]

I haven't ran into this problem. I've used In-Home Streaming on a completely headless server (no monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc) before and it works fine. My system has a Radeon HD 5850. You have to configure windows to log-in automatically and a few other things but I was able to make it work. I use TeamViewer to control the PC or sometimes just trick IHS to stream the desktop. I also have Wake-On-LAN enabled so the client can remotely wake up the IHS host.

[reinz.dev]

Originally posted by Osme:

@reinz.dev

You can short pins together (Thats what the connector does). http://rumorscity.com/2013/12/06/how-to-create-dummy-plugs-for-your-graphics-cards/ was just a quick search. May want to find something more knowledgeable yourself.

Will give it a try when I have my "stream only server" ready.

[Alronix]

Originally posted by majorgoo:

TBH, I'd recommend using VNC to control your computer so you control the console session and don't utilise RDP. The console will remain unlocked then, and you will not have that problem. Ps. I work managing circa 400 microsoft servers, so this one I know.

I will definitely try out VNC at home for this. Also check out those monitor-emulators. I just think it's to bad that this configuration with a streamingserver is facilitated better in the software. But maybe they will deliver a better solution for this in the future.

On the matter of using VNC instead of RDP I have read loads of places that RDP uses less bandwidth. I work with software distribution in SCCM and App-V in a network with over 50,000 clients (hospital computers), and for work I use RDP daily. It works well here, but we have other tools for remote controlling while a user is logged in.

I will try out VNC here at home :-)

Thanks for good suggestions from everyone :-)

[Garfire]

Originally posted by Xaero:

I haven't ran into this problem. I've used In-Home Streaming on a completely headless server (no monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc) before and it works fine. My system has a Radeon HD 5850. You have to configure windows to log-in automatically and a few other things but I was able to make it work. I use TeamViewer to control the PC or sometimes just trick IHS to stream the desktop. I also have Wake-On-LAN enabled so the client can remotely wake up the IHS host.

Xaero, what other configurations ot windows did you make?:) I have windows and then Steam start up automatically when I boot my host pc. Steam on my client pc connects to my host pc, so I can access its library of games, but when I try to stream one it gets "timed out" after a couple of seconds when it is trying to launch the game. When the host pc is connected to a monitor it all works perfectly though.. thanks for any help:)

EDIT: sorry it turned out to be a completely different problem, when using the host headless I use my laptop as the monitor/client and connect them with an ethernet cable. I remove my usb wifi antenna to make sure i'm streaming through the (much faster) cable, but forgot that that steam will fail to boot correctly without an internet connection. Googled and found some config tweaks to boot in offlinemode and all is fine:)