VNC slow refresh with unity (compiz)

[cgarre]

I run ubuntu 11.04 latest (unity) on my desktop and i have a windows laptop. I usually have all my development configuration on ubuntu, so i connect a lot to ubuntu using vnc (so ubuntu runs the vino server) and i use ultra vnc to connect.

I have observed a lot of issues with refreshing of the screen. The problem exists even when i change vnc client.
Symtoms
1. Whenever a window is closed, usually the window stays .. till i make that square on desktop (mouse press and move ..), that clears the window.
2. Whenever a new window has to be launched, sometimes i dont see the window, i have to do couple of window changes .. to see it.
3. Whenever a context senstive menu has to be seen, i have to right click and then move my mouse in that area so that slowly i see each of the menu item.

When i log into as (ubuntu classic with no effects) - then everything seems to be fine .. all refreshes happen fine. So this is most likely an issue with compiz, but i am not sure. For now unity is practically unusable over vnc.

[cgarre (cgarre)]

Ah .. ignore this .. basically i fixed it by

1. CCSM
2. Workarounds
3. Checking the box : Fix screen updates in XGL with fglrx and thats it .

Now seems to be fine ...

This bug can be closed ...

Thanks

[Pierre Fischer (erpiu)]

I've got the same issue. With the fix proposed here above everything seems to be fine.... but the system has become very very slow! Too slow!
Would it be possible to re-open the bug?

[cgarre (cgarre)]

I agree, it becomes too slow .. even every keystroke takes about a second at times to respond. But this is the inherent deficiency of VNC :( I am not sure where there are no other reports of issues from people, i rely a lot on VNC thats why i dont use KDE(Kubuntu) because its VNC is worse.

I can reopen it .. because it is very important to have a fast VNC , lets see. I am now living with the dirty screen .. as it is faster atleast ... i am ok with screens not refreshing, but slow update for every keystroke is a killer.

[Omer Akram (om26er)]

Did you try the same in Ubuntu Classic sesison from the login screen with compiz enabled? It could be a compiz bug as well. Can you test and report here if the problem happens with compiz in Ubuntu Classic as well

[cgarre (cgarre)]

Omer, i think your observation is right.
Though i have 11.10 now, so i logged into Ubuntu 2D and it does now show any refresh issue (but i really dont know if the setting fix screen updates ... is automatically applied) though i dont see any lag too, so its obviously better.

Now when i log into Ubuntu or GNOME - I am also having gnome-shell . Both should refresh issues .. so i dont know if this can be attributed to compiz, because gnome-shell would be mutter based i guess.

But regardless i think that is a good observation, atleast i now see the quality of work on VNC improve. I will try with this setting from home to office , so it goes via VPN, i would then really know the lag, for now it sounds promising.

so how can we help to get more information / data to help fix/address this issue.

[Mikko Ohtamaa (mikko-red-innovation)]

Ubuntu 11.10 beta 1
Unity
Ubuntu Desktop Sharing
Chicken of the VNC (client)

The user interface has some serious refresh issues which cannot be accounted for the latency (both computers are in the same 100 MBit lan).

The easiest way to repeat the problem is open some applications. Then try to switch between applications using icons on the left hand.

When activating new application the screen does not update. When you hover mouse cursor over the screen it will start redrawing parts under the mouse cursor (e.g. button highlights and others).

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[mohican (mohican)]

bug exists on precise

[mohican (mohican)]

I have this bug on ubuntu precise.
Using standard vnc server (vino) et standard vnc client (remmina).
Same result on various machines.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for Unity because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for unity (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]