1. 1

   Install Xorg and start it at boot

   X11 needs a functional Xorg server. Install it:

   bash · install Xorg

   sudo apt install x11-xserver-utils

   Verify the installation:

   bash · check version

   Xorg -version

   To start Xorg at boot, create a systemd service file:

   bash · create service file

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/xorg.service

   config · /etc/systemd/system/xorg.service

   [Unit]
   Description=Xorg Display Server
   After=network.target
   
   [Service]
   ExecStart=/usr/bin/Xorg :0
   Restart=always
   User=root
   Environment=DISPLAY=:0
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target

   Enable, start, and check the service:

   bash · enable & start

   sudo systemctl enable xorg.service
   sudo systemctl start xorg.service
   sudo systemctl status xorg.service

   A black screen after starting the Xorg service is expected.

2. 2

   Share the X11 socket with containers

   Option 1 — xhost (temporary)

   Grant containers access to the X11 display for the current session:

   bash · xhost

   xhost +

   Security warning

   xhost + disables access control on the X11 server, letting any user or application connect. Use it only for testing or in trusted environments — never in production.

   Option 2 — systemd service (permanent)

   Create a service that runs xhost + at startup:

   bash · create service file

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/xhost.service

   config · /etc/systemd/system/xhost.service

   [Unit]
   Description=Allow X11 access to containers
   After=graphical.target
   
   [Service]
   Type=oneshot
   ExecStart=/usr/bin/xhost +
   RemainAfterExit=true
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target

   Enable and start it:

   bash · enable & start

   sudo systemctl enable xhost.service
   sudo systemctl start xhost.service

3. 3

   Configure the deployment for X11 access

   In Sixfab Connect, open the Applications tab of your asset and start a new deployment. Configure it as follows:

   

   Container name & image — choose a name, then select the image and tag holding your X11 application (from the Sixfab Registry or a custom path).

   Environment — set DISPLAY so output appears on the host's screen. Confirm the value on the device with echo $DISPLAY (typically :0).

   DISPLAY :0

   Volumes — mount the X11 socket and the .Xauthority file so the container can reach the graphical environment:

   X11 socket /tmp/.X11-unix → /tmp/.X11-unix

   .Xauthority /root/.Xauthority → /root/.Xauthority

   Privileged mode — enable Privileged to give the container full access to the X11 server, then click Deploy. The GUI should now render on the connected display.

Troubleshooting

Make sure a display is physically connected. Without one, xhost + fails to open the display:

xhost: unable to open display ""

If a display is connected, export the variable and retry:

export DISPLAY=:0

The xhost.service may also fail when no display is available:

× xhost.service - Allow X11 access to containers
     Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/xhost.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: failed (Result: exit-code)
    Process: 52110 ExecStart=/usr/bin/xhost + (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)

xhost[52110]: /usr/bin/xhost:  unable to open display ""
systemd[1]: xhost.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
systemd[1]: Failed to start xhost.service - Allow X11 access to containers.

These errors mean the X11 display is unavailable — usually because no physical display is connected or the setup is misconfigured.

Deployment settings on Sixfab Connect for an X11-enabled container.