rdesktop from commandline

[Jeremy C. Reed]

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005, Christopher Rasch-Olsen Raa wrote:

> I am not sure if this is the correct place to voice this query, and if
> it is not, please let me know so I can direct my question to the right
> place.

I don't know if there is a correct place for X.org. But another place 
could be asking on the rdesktop-users list -- 
http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=24366

> Ok, so I have got a minimum-install of freebsd 5.3 running on a
> computer. I would like to fire rdesktop (yes, I have that and xorg
> buildt and installed) up directly at boot, presenting a logonscreen to a
> Windows Terminal Server.
>
> If I do a "rdesktop <ip-to-server-here>" on one of my computers with
> xorg installed and _running_, it opens up all nicely. I _though_
> rdesktop would somehow create a new display to show the terminal server
> if I ran the same command from shell (without xorg running) on the
> machine where the packages are only installed but with no x fired up,
> but it seems I was wrong.

I guess you get something like:
   Error: Can't open display:

> What is the best approach to accomploshing this? I have tried reading
> docs, and searching (using google), but to no avail. Anyone able to lend
> a helping hand?

I don't know if I understand you situation. But if you want rdesktop to 
startup on the same machine with the keyboard, mouse and video display at 
boot, then have your boot startup X and have the X startup rdesktop.

You should be able to have a rc.d script or rc.local that simply does:

   su someuser -c "/usr/X11R6/bin/startx"

And have a /home/someuser/.xinitrc that starts up your rdesktop. (I'd 
suggest it also start a window manager also, but maybe that is not 
needed.)

I have done similar on some thinclients. Note that there is no 
authentication for someuser, but is logged in automatically. Create the 
user.


  Jeremy C. Reed

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