jmri: replace TigerVNC with Xpra for JMRI GUI display

VNC had window management issues and some dialogs wouldn't open correctly.
Xpra runs in rootless mode — each JMRI window appears natively on the
client without a VNC client or XQuartz required.

Changes:
- Remove tigervnc-standalone-server, jmri-vnc.service, .vnc/ directory
- Install xpra, deploy jmri-xpra.service.j2 (systemd unit)
- Update jmri-gui wrapper: DISPLAY=:100, attach instructions printed on launch
- Update defaults: drop VNC vars, add jmri_xpra_display=100
- Rename handler: Restart jmri-vnc -> Restart jmri-xpra

Connect from macOS/Linux:
  xpra attach ssh://jmri@main-street-station/100

ansible/roles/jmri/defaults/main.yml

@@ -34,15 +34,12 @@ jmri_json_port: 12080
 jmri_withrottle_port: 12090
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Phase 4 — VNC server (TigerVNC)
+# Phase 4 — Xpra virtual display
-# Replaces X11 forwarding with a persistent virtual display.
+# Replaces TigerVNC with rootless Xpra — proper window management,
-# Connect with any VNC client to <host>:5901
+# persistent sessions, SSH-native attach (no VNC client needed).
+# Connect from macOS/Linux: xpra attach ssh://jmri@main-street-station/100
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-jmri_vnc_display: "1"
+jmri_xpra_display: "100"
-jmri_vnc_port: 5901
-jmri_vnc_geometry: "1280x800"
-jmri_vnc_depth: "24"
-jmri_vnc_password: ""    # set via group_vars (vault-backed)
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Phase 2 — Layout power monitor (Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi)

ansible/roles/jmri/handlers/main.yml

@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
     name: jmri
     state: restarted
 
-- name: Restart jmri-vnc
+- name: Restart jmri-xpra
   ansible.builtin.systemd:
-    name: jmri-vnc
+    name: jmri-xpra
     state: restarted
 
 - name: Restart sshd

ansible/roles/jmri/tasks/main.yml

@@ -272,51 +272,55 @@
   notify: Restart sshd
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Phase 4 — VNC server (TigerVNC)
+# Phase 4 — Xpra virtual display
-# Persistent virtual display on :1 (port 5901). Replaces X11 forwarding.
+# Replaces TigerVNC. Rootless mode: each JMRI window appears as a native
+# window on the client. Sessions are persistent across disconnects.
+# Connect: xpra attach ssh://jmri@main-street-station/{{ jmri_xpra_display }}
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- name: Install TigerVNC server
+- name: Remove TigerVNC (replaced by Xpra)
   ansible.builtin.apt:
     name: tigervnc-standalone-server
+    state: absent
+  notify: Reload systemd
+
+- name: Disable and stop jmri-vnc service if present
+  ansible.builtin.systemd:
+    name: jmri-vnc
+    enabled: false
+    state: stopped
+  failed_when: false
+
+- name: Remove jmri-vnc systemd unit if present
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: /etc/systemd/system/jmri-vnc.service
+    state: absent
+  notify: Reload systemd
+
+- name: Remove jmri VNC password directory if present
+  ansible.builtin.file:
+    path: "{{ jmri_home }}/.vnc"
+    state: absent
+
+- name: Install Xpra
+  ansible.builtin.apt:
+    name: xpra
     state: present
     update_cache: false
 
-- name: Create .vnc directory for jmri user
+- name: Deploy jmri-xpra systemd unit
-  ansible.builtin.file:
-    path: "{{ jmri_home }}/.vnc"
-    state: directory
-    owner: "{{ jmri_user }}"
-    group: "{{ jmri_group }}"
-    mode: '0700'
-
-- name: Set VNC password for jmri user
-  ansible.builtin.shell:
-    cmd: "printf '{{ jmri_vnc_password }}' | vncpasswd -f > {{ jmri_home }}/.vnc/passwd"
-  become_user: "{{ jmri_user }}"
-  no_log: true
-  changed_when: true
-
-- name: Set correct permissions on VNC password file
-  ansible.builtin.file:
-    path: "{{ jmri_home }}/.vnc/passwd"
-    owner: "{{ jmri_user }}"
-    group: "{{ jmri_group }}"
-    mode: '0600'
-
-- name: Deploy jmri-vnc systemd unit
   ansible.builtin.template:
-    src: jmri-vnc.service.j2
+    src: jmri-xpra.service.j2
-    dest: /etc/systemd/system/jmri-vnc.service
+    dest: /etc/systemd/system/jmri-xpra.service
     owner: root
     group: root
     mode: '0644'
   notify:
     - Reload systemd
-    - Restart jmri-vnc
+    - Restart jmri-xpra
 
-- name: Enable and start jmri-vnc service
+- name: Enable and start jmri-xpra service
   ansible.builtin.systemd:
-    name: jmri-vnc
+    name: jmri-xpra
     enabled: true
     state: started
     daemon_reload: true

ansible/roles/jmri/templates/jmri-gui.j2

@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 #!/bin/bash
-# jmri-gui — launch JMRI GUI on VNC virtual display
+# jmri-gui — launch JMRI GUI on Xpra virtual display
 # Managed by Ansible — do not edit manually.
 #
 # Usage (connect as jmri user):
-#   ssh jmri@main-street-station jmri-gui panelpro
+#   jmri-gui panelpro       Launch PanelPro on Xpra display
-#   ssh jmri@main-street-station jmri-gui decoderpro
+#   jmri-gui decoderpro     Launch DecoderPro on Xpra display
-#   ssh jmri@main-street-station jmri-gui status
+#   jmri-gui status         Show service status and attach command
 #
-# Then connect a VNC client to main-street-station.local.mk-labs.cloud:5901
+# Then attach from macOS/Linux:
-# VNC password is in the Ansible vault (vault_jmri_vnc_password)
+#   xpra attach ssh://jmri@main-street-station/{{ jmri_xpra_display }}
 
 set -euo pipefail
 
 JMRI_DIR="{{ jmri_install_dir }}"
 JMRI_SERVICE="jmri.service"
 MONITOR_SERVICE="jmri-monitor.service"
-VNC_SERVICE="jmri-vnc.service"
+XPRA_SERVICE="jmri-xpra.service"
-DISPLAY=":{{ jmri_vnc_display }}"
+DISPLAY=":{{ jmri_xpra_display }}"
 export DISPLAY
 
 usage() {
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ status() {
     echo "=== JMRI daemon ==="
     systemctl status "$JMRI_SERVICE" --no-pager -l 2>&1 | head -8
     echo ""
-    echo "=== VNC server ==="
+    echo "=== Xpra display ==="
-    systemctl status "$VNC_SERVICE" --no-pager -l 2>&1 | head -5
+    systemctl status "$XPRA_SERVICE" --no-pager -l 2>&1 | head -5
     echo ""
     echo "=== Layout monitor ==="
     systemctl status "$MONITOR_SERVICE" --no-pager -l 2>&1 | head -5
     echo ""
-    echo "Connect VNC client to: $(hostname -f):{{ jmri_vnc_port }}"
+    echo "To attach: xpra attach ssh://jmri@$(hostname -f)/{{ jmri_xpra_display }}"
 }
 
 launch() {
@@ -47,32 +47,31 @@ launch() {
         *)          usage ;;
     esac
 
-    # Ensure VNC server is running
+    # Ensure Xpra display is running
-    if ! systemctl is-active --quiet "$VNC_SERVICE" 2>/dev/null; then
+    if ! systemctl is-active --quiet "$XPRA_SERVICE" 2>/dev/null; then
-        echo "Starting VNC server..."
+        echo "Starting Xpra display..."
-        sudo systemctl start "$VNC_SERVICE"
+        sudo systemctl start "$XPRA_SERVICE"
         sleep 2
     fi
 
-    # Stop the JMRI daemon if running
+    # Stop the JMRI daemon if running (we're taking over the hardware connections)
     if systemctl is-active --quiet "$JMRI_SERVICE" 2>/dev/null; then
         echo "Stopping JMRI daemon..."
         sudo systemctl stop "$JMRI_SERVICE"
     fi
 
-    echo "Launching $binary on VNC display $DISPLAY..."
-    echo "Connect your VNC client to: $(hostname -f):{{ jmri_vnc_port }}"
-    echo "VNC password: see Ansible vault (vault_jmri_vnc_password)"
-    echo ""
-
     # Force AWT out of headless mode
     export JMRI_OPTIONS="-Djava.awt.headless=false"
 
-    # Launch on the VNC display — no --profile so JMRI uses last-session preference
+    echo "Launching $binary on Xpra display $DISPLAY..."
+    echo ""
+    echo "Attach from your workstation:"
+    echo "  xpra attach ssh://jmri@$(hostname -f)/{{ jmri_xpra_display }}"
+    echo ""
+
     "$JMRI_DIR/$binary" &
 
-    echo "$binary launched in background on VNC display."
+    echo "$binary launched. Attach with xpra to see windows."
-    echo "Close it from the VNC client, then run 'jmri-gui status' to check state."
     echo ""
 
     # Restart daemon if layout switch is still on

ansible/roles/jmri/templates/jmri-vnc.service.j2

@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-[Unit]
-Description=JMRI VNC virtual display (:{{ jmri_vnc_display }})
-After=network.target
-# Start before jmri.service so the display is ready when JMRI launches
-Before=jmri.service
-
-[Service]
-Type=simple
-User={{ jmri_user }}
-Group={{ jmri_group }}
-ExecStart=/usr/bin/Xtigervnc \
-    :{{ jmri_vnc_display }} \
-    -rfbport {{ jmri_vnc_port }} \
-    -geometry {{ jmri_vnc_geometry }} \
-    -depth {{ jmri_vnc_depth }} \
-    -SecurityTypes VncAuth \
-    -PasswordFile {{ jmri_home }}/.vnc/passwd \
-    -localhost no \
-    -AlwaysShared \
-    -NeverShared no \
-    -AcceptKeyEvents \
-    -AcceptPointerEvents \
-    -desktop "JMRI"
-Restart=on-failure
-RestartSec=5
-
-[Install]
-WantedBy=multi-user.target

ansible/roles/jmri/templates/jmri-xpra.service.j2

@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Xpra virtual display for JMRI (:{{ jmri_xpra_display }})
+After=network.target
+# Start before jmri.service so the display is ready when JMRI launches
+Before=jmri.service
+
+[Service]
+Type=simple
+User={{ jmri_user }}
+Group={{ jmri_group }}
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/xpra start \
+    :{{ jmri_xpra_display }} \
+    --daemon=no \
+    --mdns=no \
+    --notifications=no \
+    --systemd-run=no \
+    --pulseaudio=no \
+    --speaker=off \
+    --microphone=off \
+    --video-encoders=none \
+    --start-via-proxy=no
+Restart=on-failure
+RestartSec=5
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target