# Launching Skydel Headless via SSH only will fail without Window Login First **URL:** \ **Category:** Skydel Discussion\ **Created:** [April 30, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/t/launching-skydel-headless-via-ssh-only-will-fail-without-window-login-first/1341 "2026-04-30T13:25:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dcraig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dcraig](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/u/dcraig)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 1:25pm UTC](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/t/launching-skydel-headless-via-ssh-only-will-fail-without-window-login-first/1341/1 "2026-04-30T13:25:48Z")
Scenario: Automated testing suite via Labview issues commands to Headless Broadsim via API Python scripts. The issue(s), 1. Without skydel already running no API commands can be executed. 2.To attempt to resolve, ssh into machine and execute skydel-launch start 0 first. However, if I’ve never logged into the Broadsim via Remote Desktop ssh’ing into the machine and executing skydel-launch does not launch the software. API calls will fail as if it was never running. I need a way to run skydel without the windowing system being involved. Techs just need to start their Labview executable from Windows and not have to worry about logging into a secondary machine just so the skydel GUI will start. I’ve run across an old example skydel-SDX headless command that does not work anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ramanajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@ramanajan](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/u/ramanajan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/t/launching-skydel-headless-via-ssh-only-will-fail-without-window-login-first/1341/2 "2026-05-05T23:14:10Z")
I’ve read several posts about using the remote API. It looks like you must use TCP/IP to do this. Is there a way to use ssh for the connection instead? Our internal LAN blocks TCP/IP. ---
**Author:** ![dcraig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dcraig](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/u/dcraig)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2026, 1:00pm UTC](https://learn.safran-navigation-timing.com/t/launching-skydel-headless-via-ssh-only-will-fail-without-window-login-first/1341/3 "2026-05-06T13:00:59Z")
This is before the remote API can be used. If skydel proper isn’t running no api commands will work. But the skydel-launch command listed in the documentation doesn’t work if you just ssh into the machine. You must login to the x server first before skydel will launch.