Fedora > install Xvfb as a service

Problem

I required Xvfb to be installed, and running as a service on a server.

Assumptions: you know how to use chkconfig, yum, vi and chmod.

Solution

1. yum install xorg-x11-server-Xvfb
2. vi /etc/init.d/xvfbd (copy contents below into the file, and save it)
3. chmod 755 /etc/init.d/xvfbd (now we have a service)
4. chkconfig --add xvfbd
5. chkconfig --level 2345 xvfbd on

You can now start your service with:
sudo service xvfbd start

Check it's running:
ps -ef | grep Xvfb

Check it's listed to startup automatically for runlevels 2,3,4,5:
chkconfig --list


/etc/init.d/xvfbd

#!/bin/bash
#
# description: Xvfb server
#


# Get function from functions library
. /etc/init.d/functions


# Start the service Xvfb
start() {
        echo -n "Starting Xvfb server: "
        /usr/bin/Xvfb &
        ### Create the lock file ###
        touch /var/lock/subsys/Xvfb
        success $"Xvfb server startup"
        echo
}


# Restart the service Xvfb
stop() {
        echo -n "Stopping Xvfb server: "
        killproc Xvfb
        ### Now, delete the lock file ###
        rm -f /var/lock/subsys/Xvfb
        echo
}


### main logic ###
case "$1" in
  start)
        start
        ;;
  stop)
        stop
        ;;
  status)
        status Xvfb
        ;;
  restart|reload|condrestart)
        stop
        start
        ;;
  *)
        echo $"Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart|reload|status}"
        exit 1
esac


exit 0

See also:
http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-write-sys-v-init-script-to-start-stop-service.html