rdesktop session to headless WinXP-Guest dies frequently...

[smartysmart34]

Hi there,

i have a Debian-Box that runs a WinXP Pro headless guest. I connect to this Windows guest via rdesktop from a Suse 10.3 workstation.

rdesktop itself is OK because when I use it to connect to a WinXP Pro Notebook I can work for hours without problems.

Now, when I connect to the XP headless guest I get a connection error approximately every 2 minutes. The message reads:

Code: Select all

Process was not interrupted before end
Exit status: 1
*--------------*
Standard output:
PRINTER PRN1 to HP_Color_LaserJet_3800_2 driver HP Color LaserJet 8500 PS
*--------------*
Standard error:
/dev/dsp: Das Gerät oder die Ressource ist belegt
WARNING: Remote desktop changed from 1280x1024 to 1280x800.
WARNING: Remote desktop changed from 1280x800 to 1280x1024.
X Error of failed request:  BadValue (integer parameter out of range for operation)
  Major opcode of failed request:  53 (X_CreatePixmap)
  Value in failed request:  0x0
  Serial number of failed request:  82471
  Current serial number in output stream:  82651
*--------------*
Process executable and parameters:
rdesktop
-u
Martin
-d

-5
-k
de
-g
1280x1024
-a
24
-x
default
-P
-r
printer:HP_Color_LaserJet_3800_2
-r
sound:local
192.168.2.2:65432

Is this a known problem of the vrdp-Server that comes with Virtualbox?

I had this with VBox 1.6.6 and it is still there in 2.0.4

Kind regards,
Martin

[smartysmart34]

No one here with any idea? Would this topic better be placed in the Windows Guest or Linux Host area?

I just found out, that I can more or less reproduce the error: It is sufficient to open the windows explorer, create or delete a directory and then minimize the Explorer window. -> Connection lost.

I just startet a rdesktop session and did nothing but log in. I then got a call and came back to the machine some 15 minutes later -> Connection lost.
With the next lot connection not only the RDP-session got killed, but the headless guest as well. The entry in the VirtualBox-Application said something like: Terminated. The german expression was "Abgebrochen".

I would appreciate any suggestion.

Kind regards,
Martin

[smartysmart34]

Just to let you know:
In the Settings for the RDP-Connection go to the second Tab (Graphics).
There is an Option (that was not selected in my case) called "Screen updates as bitmaps". Select this. That did the trick for me.

Kind regards,
Martin

[The MAZZTer]

Only thing I can come up with is some app is changing the screen res on the guest OS and VirtualBox isn't handling it correctly, which causes rdesktop to fail... maybe. I've never used rdesktop, sorry.

I would recommend seeing if the problem still happens in a freshly-installed VM, then installing apps one at a time until one of them causes the problem, then seeing if you can disable the behavior in the app or whatever to work around the problem.