---
title: "run collect from server without display"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/4405/run-collect-from-server-without-display"
tags: ["collect"]
status: "answered"
score: 0
answer_count: 2
asked: "2026-01-07T10:58:10"
last_activity: "2026-01-08T14:06:39"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# run collect from server without display

Asked by JoLeBelge on 2026-01-07

Dear all,

I have set up collect (version 4.0.102) on a linux server.
NAME="Ubuntu"
VERSION="20.04.6 LTS (Focal Fossa)"

I start the executable with ./OpenForisCollect-launcher.run

It works well, but sometime I need to start collect from ssh connexion, for example after that I reboot the server. I am struggling, because Collect require a display to run and with ssh, there are no display. 

I got the following message:
./OpenForisCollect-launcher.run 
Exception in thread "AWT-EventQueue-0" java.awt.HeadlessException: 
No X11 DISPLAY variable was set, but this program performed an operation which requires it.

I tried to set a DISPLAY, with Xvfb for example, but it did not work:

Exception in thread "main" java.awt.AWTError: Can't connect to X11 window server using 'localhost:10' as the value of the DISPLAY variable.

So my question, is there a way to start collect without any display? If I understand well, the display is only required for the window that tell us that collect is running.


I thank you in advance for any help.
Jonathan Lisein


## Answer (score 1, by Stefano (OF) on 2026-01-08)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/4405/run-collect-from-server-without-display/4407

Dear Jonathan,  
The solution you proposed should work.  
However, if you are running Collect in a server and you need it to be accessible to multiple users at the same time, you should consider a proper server installation of Collect.  
Try to follow the instructions in the user manual or in this question in the support forum: [Setup Collect Desktop in a server for a multi-user environment][1]  
Thanks,  
Open Foris Team

  [1]: https://openforis.support/questions/1821/setup-collect-desktop-in-a-server-for-a-multi-user-environment#gsc.tab=0


## Answer (score 0, by JoLeBelge on 2026-01-07)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/4405/run-collect-from-server-without-display/4406

My IT specialist found the following solution.

run with virtual X11 with xvfb: 

    xvfb-run ./OpenForisCollect-launcher.run &