Debian Access without HDMI

[Nathan Leach]

So, I originally posted the following, then saw another thread asking a similar question (https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/maru-os/dnBDTXwvehc). I deleted my post and dug deeper, but still don't see an answer. Here's the original...and sorry for the back and forth.

Just dusted off my old Nexus 5 and installed Maru, Google apps, etc. Got my keyboard, mouse, and HDMI connector on the way. Looking forward to playing around with this. 

My question is, is there any way to access the Debian install without connecting to an HDMI display? From the feature comment saying it keeps the desktop state in the background I infer it's possible that Debian stays running. Just looking to see if any access is possible without being plugged into HDMI.

Comments or links to a documentation source are appreciated.

Thanks!

[Petya Lakatos]

If you manage to start Debian somehow, you can use SSH or VNC to control the desktop.
AFAIK this is only possible with connecting an HDMI display. :/ But if you connect it once,
the Debian system will keep running after unplugging the display.
By default SSH is installed, but not enabled. However you can enable it without a mouse or keyboard.
You have to modify 

/data/maru/containers/jessie/rootfs/etc/rc.local

by adding the following lines:

systemctl enable ssh
systemctl start ssh

and making the file executable.
This file will be executed on every Debian startup, so the SSH service will be running.
After that, if you wish, you can install a VNC service over SSH.

I hope this helped a bit! :) If you need more info, feel free to write back to me.

[Preetam]

Hey Nathan, thanks for the good question and for searching through the forum for similar threads first.

I am confirming that v0.2.3 does not have any mechanism for intentionally starting the desktop system without HDMI. I intentionally disabled it because I didn't have a polished method of interacting with the system from the phone screen itself--however, I now know that many users are running something like SSH or VNC on the desktop (see Petya's instructions on one way to set this up), so running it non-interactively (from the phone itself at least) makes a lot of sense.

I've added a feature request for this here.