# Unable to display xconv on JASMIN

**URL:** <https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/unable-to-display-xconv-on-jasmin/1664>\
**Category:** General\
**Tags:** JASMIN\
**Created:** [10 March 2025 12:01 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/unable-to-display-xconv-on-jasmin/1664 "2025-03-10T12:01:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xuzhang](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/xuzhang/32/409_2.png) [@xuzhang](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/xuzhang)\
**Post date:** [10 March 2025 12:01 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/unable-to-display-xconv-on-jasmin/1664/1 "2025-03-10T12:01:24Z")

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Hi,

I met a problem to use xconv open pp.files on JASMIN science server.

The error messages are as follows:

> "no display name and no $DISPLAY environment variable  
> while executing  
> “load /opt/rh/jasmin-sci/root/usr/bin/xconv1.94/lib/tk8.6/…/libtk8.6.so Tk”  
> (“package ifneeded Tk 8.6.8” script)  
> invoked from within  
> “package require Tk”  
> (“package ifneeded xconv 1.0” script)  
> invoked from within  
> “package require xconv”  
> invoked from within  
> "if {[string match _convsh_ $execname]} {  
> package require convsh
> 
> namespace eval ::mainloop {  
> variable partialCommand {}  
> }
> 
> - proc ::ma…"\*
> - (file “/opt/rh/jasmin-sci/root/usr/bin/xconv/main.tcl” line 8)"\*

I tried solutions from previous threads by using "ssh -Y/X " or “ssh -AY/AX” to log in the sci-server from Jasmin login server and loading modules “jaspy, Jasmin-sci, esmvaltool”. but the same error pops again. Please let me know how I could solve this.

Thanks,  
Xu

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**Author:** ![Juan\_Bilbao](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/juan_bilbao/32/458_2.png) [@Juan\_Bilbao](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/Juan_Bilbao)\
**Post date:** [11 March 2025 12:18 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/unable-to-display-xconv-on-jasmin/1664/2 "2025-03-11T12:18:07Z")

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Hi Xu,

Thank you for reaching out.Regarding the issue with `xconv` on the `JASMIN sci-vm` servers. Based on your error messages, it appears that X11 forwarding is not properly enabled. This is preventing the graphical interface from launching. Below are the steps to resolve this issue.

In case you go from your local pc to archer2, connect to JASMIN with -X (or -Y):

```auto
ssh -X your-username@login.archer2.ac.uk

ssh -X your-username@puma2

ssh -X your-username@login-01.jasmin.ac.uk

ssh -X your-username@sci-vm-01

```

Once in sci-vm, check

`echo $DISPLAY`

This should return something like this:

`localhost:51.0`

If thats the case load the modules

```auto
module load jaspy

module load jasmin-sci

```

and run

`xconv`

If `$DISPLAY` still failing, the other option is that on puma2 (or your local pc), the ssh configuration has to be configured properly to enable ForwardAgent.

vim ~/.ssh/config

```auto
# ARCHER2 login nodes
Host ln*
IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_your_key
# JASMIN Login Nodes 
Host login-0?.jasmin.ac.uk
    User your-username
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_your_key
    ForwardAgent yes

# JASMIN sci nodes 
Host sci-vm-0? sci-ph-0?
    User your-username
    IdentityFile ~/.ssh/id_your_key
    ForwardAgent yes

```

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Juan

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/uploads/cms_support/original/1X/1fd2411499ffcbc299fe756cd5cdf26e44956558.png) [@system](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/u/system)\
**Post date:** [13 March 2025 12:18 UTC](https://cms-helpdesk.ncas.ac.uk/t/unable-to-display-xconv-on-jasmin/1664/3 "2025-03-13T12:18:34Z")

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