[vtkusers] Using vtkpython with X11 on headless Mac OS X systems

[W.T. Bridgman]

Sean,

The only problem I see with this solution is that the problem appears  
to be a VTK with Python issue.  The VTK samples written in C behave  
just fine in the environment described.

Thanks for your input.

Tom

On Dec 13, 2007, at 10:10 AM, Sean McBride wrote:

> On 12/12/07 1:10 PM, W.T. Bridgman said:
>
>> I'm trying to build vtkpython to run on some Macs in a cluster.  Mac
>> OS X 10.4.11, Python 2.4.4, VTK fairly recently from CVS.
>>
>> Using the guidance I've found on the list, I seem to have a partially
>> successful X11 build for vtk/vtkpython.  I can run the c sample
>> programs like Cone and have it display through the X11 window to
>> another Mac or linux machine, but the vtkpython programs fail with an
>> X11 error like allocating colors, etc.
>>
>> I'm thinking this may be because the default Tk on the Mac doesn't
>> have X11 installed.  Am I correct in assuming that the vtkpython
>> graphical components are piped through Tk?
>>
>> It appears that the TclTkAquaBI installation installs a Tk X11
>> framework for the Mac and I am thinking about installing that and
>> rebuilding VTK.
>>
>> Does anyone on the list have experience with this or can provide some
>> hint as to whether I'm on the right track?
>
> Hi Tom,
>
> I'm afraid I know nothing about X11, nor python, nor Tk.  :)  But,  
> I do
> maintain a few vtk dashboards and discovered that if the machine is
> headless (ie with a video card, but with no monitor physically
> connected) then VTK crashes all kinds.
>
> You might want to try with a monitor to see if that changes anything.
> And maybe read this:
> <http://lists.apple.com/archives/mac-opengl/2007/Dec/msg00007.html>
>
> --
> ____________________________________________________________
> Sean McBride, B. Eng                 sean at rogue-research.com
> Rogue Research                        www.rogue-research.com
> Mac Software Developer              Montréal, Québec, Canada