Installing the X Virtual Frame Buffer on AIX or Linux

On Linux, Linux for zSeries, or AIX® operating systems, if you want to create thumbnails of the files that you attach to assets, you must install the X Virtual Frame Buffer (XVFB).

Before you begin

You must have administrative access to your operating system. The following instructions are for AIX and Linux, however this process is similar for other Linux distributions.

Procedure

Install the XVFB file sets. For AIX, the file sets are included on the installation CDs for the operating system. For Linux, the location of the file sets depends on your specific distribution. On some distributions, you can install the xorg-x11-server-Xorg package to obtain the necessary file sets. If not, refer to the documentation for your distribution.
For supported Linux and AIX operating system platforms, see the system requirements and review the operating system sections.
Start XVFB:
- These are the file sets to install:
  - OpenGL.OpenGL_X.dev.vfb.05.01.0000.0000
  - X11.vfb.05.01.0000.0000
  - To associate XVFB with one display, run the following command, where n is the display number to associate with this instance of the XVFB:
```
/usr/bin/X11/X -force -vfb -x abx -x dbe -x GLX :n & 
```
  - To set XVFB so that it is effective at system boot and restarts if it fails, have a system administrator add the following entry to the /etc/inittab file, where n is the display number to associate with this instance of the XVFB:
```
xvfb:2:respawn:/usr/bin/X11/X -force -vfb -x abx -x dbe -x GLX :n > /dev/null 
```
- To associate XVFB with one display, run the following command, where n is the display number to associate with this instance of the XVFB:
```
/usr/bin/Xvfb :n -screen 0 800x600x24&
```
Optional: Verify that XVFB is running:
1. Run the following command, where sysname is the system name, and n is the display number that you are checking:
```
/usr/lpp/X11/Xamples/bin/xprop -display sysname:n -root | grep VFB 
```
2. If XVFB is running, you will see the following string: XVFB_SCREEN(STRING) = "TRUE".
Export the display:
1. Run the following command, where n is the display number of XVFB:
```
export DISPLAY=:n
```
Export the gdfontpath:
1. Run the following command, where font_path is the full path to a folder that contains .ttf system fonts (for example, WebSphere_Application_Server_install_location/java/jre/lib/fonts):
```
export GDFONTPATH=font_path
```
  Tip: Use the following command to find folders that contain .ttf fonts:
```
find / -name *.ttf
```

Results

For more information about installing and verifying XVFB on AIX, see http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/aix/v6r1/index.jsp?topic=/com.ibm.aix.aixwnpgd/doc/aixwnpgd/xvfb.htm.

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