Is it possible to RDP directly to the RetroPie GUI?

DSilsbury

OK, so here's my scenario. I have an arcade cabinet and a pi installed (lets call it prod), but I'm also working on a second pi (lets call it dev). I don't have a separate monitor for the dev pi, but I can RDP into Pixel and SSH into command line on it. But I have no way of testing the RetroPi GUI remotely at the moment. So basically I'm looking for a way to run emulation station, or what I would be greeted with if I booted it up with it's own monitor.
Can it be done?

gamesfan

@DSilsbury
I have never used it but I saw in the packages VNC is installable. If it works like it does on PC that may be a way to remote into it.

DSilsbury

Thank you, I shall try and report back

dankcushions

not using VNC, as VNC requires X, whereas emulationstation outputs direct to the framebuffer (no X). there's this, but i guess that won't work on non-dispmanx applications - emulationstation uses gles1 i believe.

in short: no.

DSilsbury

@dankcushions Ok, thanks. Saved me some time. Looks like the best option is a second display. Could do with something small though

WODAK

@DSilsbury said in Is it possible to RDP directly to the RetroPie GUI?:

OK, so here's my scenario. I have an arcade cabinet and a pi installed (lets call it prod), but I'm also working on a second pi (lets call it dev). I don't have a separate monitor for the dev pi, but I can RDP into Pixel and SSH into command line on it. But I have no way of testing the RetroPi GUI remotely at the moment. So basically I'm looking for a way to run emulation station, or what I would be greeted with if I booted it up with it's own monitor.
Can it be done?

You can use VNC without X

Here are the instructions:

run first

sudo  apt-get update

Dispmanx VNC dependencies:

sudo apt-get install libvncserver-dev

Installation:

Clone github repo:

git clone https://github.com/hanzelpeter/dispmanx_vnc.git

Modify makefile :

nano makeit

and modify the following

-lGLESv2 to -lbrcmGLESv2
and
-lEGL to -lbrcmEGL

make executable:

chmod +x makeit

Compile:

sudo ./makeit

run server:

sudo ./dispman_vncserver

Then you just need a VNC client. I use VNC Viewer on windows.

The disadvantage is only that you can't play games (screen tearing) and there is no sound on your client. But it is great for tinkering with your Retropie system.

I've been using VNC for a couple of years now because my raspberry is conneted on TV and the TV is mostly occupied by my family :)

kimsdotcom

@WODAK Thanks for that!
but why my keyboard input does not work?

HorseWithForce

Maybe this is your solution https://www.linux-projects.org/uv4l/tutorials/play-retropie-in-browser/

I tried to install it yesterday, but I run into some problems I havent figured out yet.... But I've seen people successfully installing this solution.