u1sdtool crashes when run via telnet

[MikeR]

~$ u1sdtool -s
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twisted/internet/base.py", line 396, in fireEvent
    DeferredList(beforeResults).addCallback(self._continueFiring)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twisted/internet/defer.py", line 224, in addCallback
    callbackKeywords=kw)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twisted/internet/defer.py", line 213, in addCallbacks
    self._runCallbacks()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twisted/internet/defer.py", line 371, in _runCallbacks
    self.result = callback(self.result, *args, **kw)
--- <exception caught here> ---
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twisted/internet/base.py", line 409, in _continueFiring
    callable(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/bin/u1sdtool", line 53, in main
    bus = dbus.SessionBus(mainloop=loop)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/_dbus.py", line 219, in __new__
    mainloop=mainloop)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/_dbus.py", line 108, in __new__
    bus = BusConnection.__new__(subclass, bus_type, mainloop=mainloop)
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.6/dbus/bus.py", line 125, in __new__
    bus = cls._new_for_bus(address_or_type, mainloop=mainloop)
dbus.exceptions.DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.Spawn.ExecFailed: /bin/dbus-launch terminated abnormally with the following error: Autolaunch error: X11 initialization failed.

[MikeR (mike-rechtman)]

Tried apport-collect -p ubuntuone-client 796169 ; didn't work in Lynx!

[Roberto Alsina (ralsina)]

This doesn't work because u1sdtool connects to syncdaemon through the session DBus.

If you do have a session running on that system, I believe you can set a environment variable to point u1sdtool to the right session. If you don't, there is a way to start one and then make u1sdtool use it.

I don't have that information handy right now, but if you want it I can find it for you.

[MikeR (mike-rechtman)]

1. Which didn't work because of "session DBus"? the u1sdtool or the apport-collect?
2. Does this mean that ubuntuone cannot be used from e.g. a headless server?
3. I looked for documentation / workaround / whatever.... zilch. Am I the first user to try this? Seems hardly credible.
4. I'm willing to try any workaround, any help accepted gratefully!

Thanks,
Mike

[Roberto Alsina (ralsina)]

I meant the u1sdtool, I am not sure about why apport-collect didn't work.

Yes, ubuntuone is not meant to be used in headless servers, although I think there is a workaround for that.

I am leaving for the airport, so I will be posting the workaround tomorrow. If you are in a hurry you can ask in #ubuntuone in freenode.

Thanks for the patience!

[Roman Yepishev (rye)]

It is possible to attach to syncdaemon's (and basically user's DBus session) by getting the environment from the process running within DBus session and applying it to current shell. This is a workaround only.

$ ps axe | grep [u]buntuone-syncdaemon
 3054 ? Sl 2:22 /usr/bin/python /usr/lib/ubuntuone-client/ubuntuone-syncdaemon SHELL=/bin/bash VISUAL=vim DBUS_...

Copy the key=value items and run as:
$ export SHELL=/bin/bash VISUAL=vim DBUS_...

And u1sdtool will start working in this shell.

[Alex Peters (alex-peters)]

Bug #452848 is related, and sadly, marked as "won't fix" because the problem is apparently with D-Bus.

Bug #162672 talks about the underlying problem specifically, but frustratingly it too is marked as "won't fix."