Headless Mac Mini & Screen Sharing Latency

I've seen serveral topics wthin the forums and others online. I've seen physical fixes with the hacked VGA connector. I'm going nuts here, because it appears the issue is software related.
All my machines are Maverick with the exception of my Pro, so this happens on all of them. My mini is headless sitting right in front of me, and is networked both hardwire and WiFi. SSH is not laggy, load is minimal when doing so, however when I login via screen sharing it it laggy, taking a lot of time just to navigate the system.
Question, does or has anyone found a fix for this that does not require me being a MacGyver?

My understanding of the issue (and one I believe to be correct) is that when the Mac is truely headless i.e. with no display connected at all then the Mac will turn off the video chip. It then uses the main CPU and software to 'emulate' a display. This is both itself slower than when using the video chip and also takes away performance from other CPU processes. Hence you get a laggy response doing screensharing compared to screensharing when a display is connected.
This is why a past solution that you mention yourself is to make a hacked together VGA adapter to trick the Mac in to thinking a VGA monitor is connected. This by tricking the Mac into thinking there is a display attached means the Mac turns on the video chip and uses it for creating a display for screensharing.
If you have a 'KVM' (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switchbox with a single display attached to that, then even when it is switched to a display on a different computer the KVM spoofs the presense of the display to the attached computers so they still think the display is connected and hence avoid the problem.
Another approach for DVI or HDMI displays (similar to the VGA trick) is to use a Gefen DVI Detective Plus or HDMI Detective Plus. With these you initially have the display connected, have the Detective Plus 'learn' the signal from the display and thereafter even if the display is turned off or disconnected it keeps sending the signal to the Mac and therefore keeps the video chip active.
See http://www.gefen.com/kvm/ext-dvi-edidp.jsp?prod_id=4715
See http://www.gefen.com/kvm/ext-hdmi-edidp.jsp?prod_id=8005

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Screen Sharing on "headless" Mac Mini

Does anyone know how to change the screen size and keymap for a "headless" Mac Mini (no keyboard and monitor), accessed via Screen Sharing?
Currently:
- The screen size is limited to 800x600 or 1024x768. I'd like bigger.
- On the Mac Mini, I have to use the "U.S. Extended" keyboard layout to get the right key mapping from Screen Sharing. But the Login Screen doesn't seem to use this mapping. Also, I live in Switzerland, and I'd like to use international keyboard layouts.
Info:
- Mac Mini: OS X 10.4.11
- Screen Sharing host (iMac): OS X 10.6.8
- Desired keyboard layout: Swiss French and Swiss German
Thanks!

Thanks for the ideas. As suggested, I tried swapping out both the VNC client as well as server, but unfortunately no luck.
I should have mentioned that if I plug a large monitor into the Mac Mini, I see the bigger screen via Screen Sharing. If I unplug the monitor, the larger size is maintained until I log out; then I'm back to 1024x768. This indicates that its not the VNC (client and/or server) that's limiting the screen size, it's the OS that only provides two choices if no monitor is connected. I don't see why that has to be; it's just the size of the allocated graphics buffer that changes.
Concerning the keyboard, I found that you can set the Login screen to use the US Extended keyboard layout by selecting System Preferences -> Accounts -> Login Options -> Show input menu in login window. That allows you to select the keyboard layout you want to use for the Login prompt, and fortunately that selection is then saved. That significantly defuses the keyboard problem – although ideally, I'd still like to use international keyboard layouts. Logically, this should be something the VNC software controls, but I did not see any options to that effect, in any of the VNC clients and servers suggested above.

Mavericks, change resolution of headless Mac Mini

After updating to Mavericks I have have problems at changing the resolution of my headless Mac mini. After changing the display resolution my VNC/Screen Sharing sessions kept blacking out and I couldn't see anything. Any solution?
Thanks, Andrea

Try following the tip listed here http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20131025050251648
However note that headless Macs offer far slower screensharing performance compared to ones with a display attached. This is because when headless the video card is not being used.
Apart from the old trick of making a dummy VGA adaptor with resisters to trick the Mac in to thinking a monitor is attached, other options would be to use a Gefen DVI Detective or HDMI Detective, or to connect the Mac to a KVM (Keyboard Video Mouse) switch box.

Headless Mac Mini feed CDs

Can I somehow use disc sharing on my MBP to feed CD's to iTunes on a headless Mac Mini? And better yet, can I do it over the internet? I've set my Uncle up with a Mac Mini running his music via iTunes, using an iPad and "Remote" to control it.
It's often inconvenient to get over to his house, and get the Mac Mini out and feed CD's to it directly.

The link is not broken, the page has removed, it seems. Maybe they got a call from Cupertino? The page described how to use three resistors a 75 Ohm to get a monitor dummy. With this resistors you have to connect a few pins of a VGA adapter, connected to the screen port of the mac mini.
Perhaps google can help you?
Ralf

Headless Mac mini

just want to tell you: after installing leo, the mini KEEPS the higher screen resolution (1680x1050).For installation of leopard, i used the 23" cinema display. after finishing the installation routine, i disconnected the cinema display, and- voila, it works fine w/ apple remote desktop.

Thanks for the heads up on this development. This is good news, but I'm not sure I'm ready to upgrade all six of my headless Mac minis in the server room at work just yet...
-Doug

VNC on headless Mac Mini challenges

I have researched this on various forums and have not found a solution. Any help would be appreciated.
I have a headless Mac mini on my LAN. If a monitor is physically attached, and on I can VNC to the mini and have control of the desktop. If the monitor is disconnected, then when I VNC to the mini a connection is established, I see the desktop, but there is no control. There might be an active window hiding just about off screen. You can try and grab and move it. But you cannot move it back to the center. You can try and do a restart or shut down remotely but the command does not work.
Any thoughts?

Your correct, it's definitely a software issue. It has something to do with how ARD display after the login window. A bug somewhere...anyhow, this isn't an ultimate fix, but it does work for me.
After logging in with ARD and getting your garbled screen, SSH into your server and kickstart your ARD client. This is what I run:
sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/k ickstart -activate -configure -access -on -users sadmin -privs -all -restart -agent -menu
Yours might differ (at least your -users might). Here's an Apple article of various commands... http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108030
Hope this helps.
Message was edited by: Jtomm

How to use Mac *encrypted* screen sharing from iOS

Hello,
I have a Mac Mini running Yosemite Server that I can access from a remote Mac, using Screen Sharing app. I have selected "Encrypt all network data" and this works very well.
Now I'd like to do the same thing from my iPhone or iPad (both are running iOS 8): access my Mini in the same way I already do from the remote Mac. But I want my connection to be as secure. All data must be encrypted between the Mini and my iOS device.
What is the best way to achieve that? What are the best iOS apps? I've tried some VNC apps but they don't seem to manage encrypted sessions. Did I miss a subtle setting, either on my Mini or on the iOS apps?
Any help is truly appreciated.

Hello,
I have a Mac Mini running Yosemite Server that I can access from a remote Mac, using Screen Sharing app. I have selected "Encrypt all network data" and this works very well.
Now I'd like to do the same thing from my iPhone or iPad (both are running iOS 8): access my Mini in the same way I already do from the remote Mac. But I want my connection to be as secure. All data must be encrypted between the Mini and my iOS device.
What is the best way to achieve that? What are the best iOS apps? I've tried some VNC apps but they don't seem to manage encrypted sessions. Did I miss a subtle setting, either on my Mini or on the iOS apps?
Any help is truly appreciated.

In order to properly play my music on my DAC with a headless mac mini, I had to "check" the tunes in iTunes. When I did that, the songs in each album were put in not their proper order. How do I restore them to their original sequence in each album?

In order to properly play my music on my DAC using a headless Mac Mini, I had to make sure that all of the songs in "Music" were checked. To so so, I pressed the "check box." When I did that, all of the songs in each album were resequenced in not their proper order.
How do I restore the proper order of songs for each album?

In list view, select the album column. To choose which columns appear, select an item on the left side of the window (a playlist, for example), choose View > View Options, and select the information you want to see. You can also Control-click a column heading to select columns to display.
The column selected determines how tracks are displayed. For example, clicking the "Name" column displays all tracks in alphabetical order; clicking the "Album" column displays the tracks in album order; clicking the "Date Added" column displays the tracks in the order that they were imported into your library. Columns also have a disclosure arrow at the right of the column (when selected) that you can click to reverse the order.

Gestures not working Yosemite Headless Mac Mini

Updated to 10.10.2 this morning and now I am already experiencing problems with my headless MacMini (home theater PC connected to HDTV). Yesterday all trackpad gestures were functioning properly. Now after updating only scrolling works in Safari, all other gestures such as swipe to previous or following page, pinch to zoom etc have stopped working?
Anyone have any idea how to remedy this irritating glitch?
Kind regards, Mark

Thank you for your prompt reply. The problem is I am controlling the headless Mac Mini with my Macbook Air. So there is nothing to toggle in the Mac Mini as I am not using a separate bluetooth trackpad or mouse to control the Mac Mini. Opening trackpad preferences just has a spinning wheel searching for a device.
Do you have any other advice for me? Kindest regards, Mark

Mountain Lion appears to break VNC connection to a headless mac mini.

I connect to my headless mac mini with VNC. Under lion this worked perfectly. With Mountain Lion on my mac mini I can connect but many windows do not update properly. If I connect an external display to the mac mini all is well again. Any solutions?

I use splashtop.
Able to reach iPad resolution when i connect to my iPad, when the splashtop session ends, it drops back to 800x600.
Maybe you could try it out and see if splashtop helps expand to 2560 x 1600.

Ways of shutting down a headless Mac Mini unit

Aside from setting for a time for it to shut down automatically and hard shut down, are there other ways of shutting down a headless Mac Mini?

Thanks. I'm planning on connecting my Mac Mini to my router and make it stream media through the network. I just figured out a primitive way of shutting it down without the need of a mouse/keyboard/monitor, because it will be without any of those, using the apple script email shutdown. I know it's kinda dumb but it's worth a try.

Can I display EyeTV's live TV over HDMI-out and be able to see my desktop using screen-sharing on a headless mac-mini used as a media-box?

Hi,
I'm thinking of buying a new mac-mini to replace my current one which acts as an iTunes server and records TV programs using eyeTV. I connect using screen-sharing/VNC to be able to do stuff on it (like handbrake etc.)
I have eyeTV with a satelite receiver and I want to change the setup so that:
- the new mac-mini continues to work as an iTunes server (and handbrake workhorse)
- I can use the HDMI output (inc. audio) to show eyeTV's live TV full-screen app
- I can connect using screen-sharing/VNC to the mac-mini and see my normal desktop to be able to maintain it etc. but this is a headless display (no screen is connected to the display-port).
- recorded media I'd play through the appleTV2 still + rentals etc. unless anyone knows if eyeTV software can offer up iTunes content? I don't like the eyeTV recordings in general as it seems very slow to me for access when there are lots of recordings and wouldn't be available in other apleTVs in the house AFAIK.
The main benefit that this gives me is that I'd no longer need a seperate satelite box to watch live TV and can add more eyeTV hardware to get additional TV channels all through the same HUD on the TV for ease of access.
Does this seem possible in theory & practice (ie are there any gotcha's to consider?)
- can I force the HDMI output resolution to 1080i as I go via an amp to the TV and the appleTV2 drops to low-res in this configuration so I have had to find a workaround for that.
- does the mac-mini have IR input that can be programmed?
- Does eyeTV software remain stable for long periods?
- Does the HDMI out have any handshake issues that would need a reset of the display (somehow)?
thanks in advance for any thoughts/contributions
Lee

I think the easiest way to do this is to have the EyeTV app running in one user account and sent via HDMI to the TV, and use a separate user account for Screen Sharing. Both logins can be active at the same time and with Lion you can connect via screen sharing to which ever login you need.
With regards to the Mac video resolution changing, when it is not the current input on your AV receiver. This is 'normal', if the Mac sees no signal it drops down the a lower level. What you need is to buy a HDMI Detective Plus which tricks the Mac in to always seeing a signal and hence it will not drop down the resolution. See http://www.gefen.com/kvm/dproduct.jsp?prod_id=8005
The Mac mini does have an IR receiver. This can be used with the EyeTV app, iTunes, and similar. Yes I believe EyeTV would run for prolonged periods quite happily, it is has been around for a long time and had most of the rough edges polished off. However one issue you will have to deal with is that it does not automatically update its program guide data. For this you might have to write or modify an AppleScript. Elgato support or their user forums will be a lot of help.
You can set EyeTV to convert recordings to an iTunes (Apple TV) compatible format and then delete them from EyeTV.
The HDMI Detective should solve your handshaking problems.

Problems to connect with VNC to headless mac mini after sleep mode

Hallo,
I've a Mac Mini (late 2009) setup with Lion Server. I want to use it without mouse/keyboard/monitor attached. Since I want to safe power ( green IT ;-) ), I would like to use sleep mode.
First thing I've learned is, that Lion Server prevents the mini to go to sleep after an idel time as set in power saving.
The only thing that works, is setting up a shedule with sleep / wakeup times.
When I start the mini, everything works great. I can connect via VNC. The Mini goes to sleep at the scheduled time and wakes up again as expected.
From this time on, things begin to get strange:
I can connect using VNC, but all i get is a grey screen with a moving cursor. So VNC is working, but there is no screen available on the Mini. Same if I use thightVNC from a Windwos PC. Get a grey screen.
Further the system does NOT go to sleep at scheduled times any longer.
I was able to track down the problem to the missing monitor: If the Mini wakes up without a monitor connected, I seems to wait to get the right resolution or what ever. All servives are working, SSH is fine even VNC works, but shows only a grey screen.
I've been playing with attaching / detaching a monitor. Sometimes I got:
- Boot with monitor
- connect with VNC, see login screen
- send Mini to sleep
- disconnect monitor
- wakeup Mini
- VNC reconnects, showing grey screen
- plug in monitor and wait until login screen appears on the monitor
- VNC switches from grey to login screen
The only way I can save some energy is a sheduled shutdown / restart. So headless works, but not after waking up from sleep.
Any hint or solutions for this ?
Thanks
Marc

Look in the security feature. This is a link to the FAQ (step 6): http://support.apple.com/kb/PH4014?viewlocale=en_US
I had the same issue when I connected my Mac Mini to be a Media Server.
/r
C.

Mac mini screen showing only black and cursor arrow

I stopped using this mini when I attempted to upgrade the OS and it became unresponsive in the midst of the upgrade. I recently took it in for repair, they told me it's now running fine. but when I get it home the screen comes up all black. the cursor arrow appears and I can move it on the screen but I can't see anything else. I don't have a monitor for the mini (never did) I just do a share screen from one of my other macs (iMac, Powerbook) but now all I see is the black screen. I can access it from any of my other computers. I can access the files. Everything works great, except I can't see the screen. Is there something simple I'm overlooking?

Hmmm, I'm wondering if they attached a screen & set the resolution out of bounds for whatever you're screen sharing with?
Can you boot the Mini holding Shift key & still get in once it boots?

Set display size for headless Mac Mini?

Hello.
I want to set the display on my Mac Mini (headless, control via ARD) to a widescreen setting, but since no monitor is attached, it doesn't give me the option for a widescreen display.
Any ideas how to force it to a widescreen display setting?
Thanks,
Kristin.

I found that online : http://www.macvroom.com/node/39
And I've used it once to set a mac mini to automatically switch to a non-standard resolution to display properly on some sort of strange flat-screen tv.
If you find additional info, please post for reference, can always be useful.
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Headless Mac Mini & Screen Sharing Latency

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