How to run Android Emulator from Shell on Ubuntu Server

Question

I installed Android SDK and JDK on Ubuntu Server 14.04 x64. But when I run the AVD, I got

error: 'SDL init failure, reason is: No available video device'

I follow this https://stackoverflow.com/a/6965679 sudo apt-get install ia32-libs but didn't work.

Should I install any desktop on Ubuntu Server?

Android Emulator is a graphical application, so naturally it requires a desktop to run. Why are you running it on a server? — 1615903, Dec 30 '15 at 12:40
You may also find it useful to ask this question on http://askubuntu.com/ — Todd, Dec 30 '15 at 12:40
@1615903 because I wan't to uploading apk to remote server using webpage and run it. — sumy, Dec 30 '15 at 12:43
But you cannot run Android Emulator in an SSH terminal, it is a graphical application. — 1615903, Dec 30 '15 at 12:45
@1615903 oh, sorry. I just find that that should not run from SSH terminal. can it run from shell? — sumy, Dec 30 '15 at 12:49

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 30 '15 at 12:58

11

Try to run emulator without GUI following these steps:

From: http://paulemtz.blogspot.com/2013/05/android-testing-in-headless-emulator.html

Then, to run the headless emulator:

emulator -avd test -no-skin -no-audio -no-window

The '-no-skin' option removes the emulator buttons such as the home and other hardware keyboard buttons.

The '-no-audio' option disables the audio support.

Finally, the '-no-window' option disables the emulator's graphical window display.

Note that -avd test would need to be modified to refer to your specific emulator image (AVD).

answered Dec 30 '15 at 12:58

piotrek1543

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if it's working solution, please check it as answer to help others – piotrek1543 Dec 30 '15 at 17:16
hmm, i wonder if there is no windows will automate test ui ex.robotframework will able to verify or not. – Jongz Puangput Nov 01 '21 at 23:10

score -3 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:22

-3

You cannot run an emulator on the Server version of Ubuntu. The Emulator requires a GUI. Which the Server OS does not possess.

Rather use an Ubuntu Desktop OS

Then network your Server and Desktop, get the APK and upload it.

If you still wish to use Ubuntu Server with a GUI, refer to this, and repost the question with Ubuntu Server tags.

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:22

Community

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answered Dec 30 '15 at 12:46

TejjD

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This is not true. You can run Android Emulator on Ubuntu Server. For example: If you add `-no-window` it's creating an emulator in headless mode which works on Ubuntu Server. – yershalom May 13 '18 at 13:44

How to run Android Emulator from Shell on Ubuntu Server

2 Answers2