Issue installing HNN

[oldgandalf]

Hello
I just finished installing the HNN software, following the webpage. I installed Ubuntu 18.4 under Windows 10. I closed the WSL and opened it again. Then I try to run the HNN. Here is the image of the error I get.
Any thought?
Thanks

You can reply to me at: oldgandalf@gmail.com

jbosch@DESKTOP-CGD5VDN:$ export DISPLAY=:0 # WSL 1
_sourcejbosch@DESKTOP-CGD5VDN:$ cd hnn_source_code
python3 hnn.pyjbosch@DESKTOP-CGD5VDN:~/hnn_source_code$ python3 hnn.py
qt.qpa.xcb: could not connect to display :0
qt.qpa.plugin: Could not load the Qt platform plugin "xcb" in "" even though it was found.
This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Available platform plugins are: eglfs, linuxfb, minimal, minimalegl, offscreen, vnc, wayland-egl, wayland, wayland-xcomposite-egl, wayland-xcomposite-glx, webgl, xcb.

Aborted
jbosch@DESKTOP-CGD5VDN:~/hnn_source_code$ ls
CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md _config.yml data hnn_qt5.py pmanu_gamma.py tests
CONTRIBUTING.md _layouts dipolefn.py init.py ppsth.py ubuntu_install.log
DataViewGUI.py ac_manu_gamma.py example_analysis.py installer praster.py visdipole.py
Gemfile assets feed.py lfp.py praw.py vislfp.py
L2_basket.py averaging.py fileio.py loadmodel_nrnui.py pspec.py visnet.py
L2_pyramidal.py axes_create.py filt.py mod ptest.py vispsd.py
L5_basket.py cartesian.py gutils.py morphology.py requirements.txt visrast.py
L5_pyramidal.py cell.py hnn netParams.py res visspec.py
LICENSE cfg.py hnn.cfg network.py run.py visvolt.py
Makefile cli.py hnn.desktop nsgr.py scripts x86_64
PT_example.py clidefs.py hnn.png param seg3d.py
README.md conf.py hnn.py paramrw.py simdat.py
init.py ctune.py hnn_docker.sh params_default.py specfn.py
pycache currentfn.py hnn_nrnui.py plotfn.py spikefn.py

[rythorpe]

This looks like an x-forwarding issue. Have you ever encountered this @ntolley?

[ntolley]

@oldgandalf as suggested above, you likely need to enable x-forwarding:

Unfortunately this needs to be done every time you restart your computer (unless you automate the program on startup), one of the downsides of using WSL but it is rather useful in every other sense.

Let me know if you already tried this and I can see if I can reproduce the error another way.

[oldgandalf]

Hello @rythorpe and @ntolley. Thanks for your comments.
I had already installed the VcXsrv and launched it. The X is in my right bottom corner.
I have restarted Ubuntu and the computer, but still the same error.
I installed the Ubuntu including the Ubuntu 18.04 in the WSL installation line: using the option WSL "Ubuntu 18.04" (something like this). Do you think it may be an issue?

[oldgandalf]

I have these two icons in my applications

I first installed WSL alone and then again including the Ubuntu 18.04 option.
What I am doing is to launch the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS icon and then HNN call:

export DISPLAY=:0 # WSL 1
cd hnn_source_code
python3 hnn.py

[rythorpe]

Have you gotten any firewall pop ups @oldgandalf? I wonder if there was a recent update somewhere on the windows or ubuntu side that is preventing communication between your WSL environment and your x-client.

[oldgandalf]

Hi @rythorpe, No, not any firewall pop-ups. Windows is always installing updates. But just the normal ones. I just installed Ubuntu for this purpose, so I have not tested this Ubuntu installation. Is there a way to test that? Also, is Ok the way I used to install Ubuntu, as an option in the WSL?
Do you recommend I install Ubuntu using a virtual machine as VMWare and forget about WSL?
Thanks

[ntolley]

Admittedly I'm a bit stumped, can you try launching a GUI app buy typing firefox into the terminal (you may need to install it). That will at least tell us if this is an HNN issue, or an X11 issue.

Do you recommend I install Ubuntu using a virtual machine as VMWare and forget about WSL?

In the short term this should work fine. Another option is to try WSL2:
https://dev.to/adityakanekar/upgrading-from-wsl1-to-wsl2-1fl9

You can automate the export of DISPLAY by following the instructions here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/61110603/how-to-set-up-working-x11-forwarding-on-wsl2

Definitely let us know what you decide!

[oldgandalf]

@ntolley Thank you very much for your hewlp.
I made the test with firefox and it did not work either.

jbosch@DESKTOP-CGD5VDN:~/hnn_source_code/hnn_source_code$ firefox
Unable to init server: Could not connect: Connection refused
Error: cannot open display: :0

So, I think the problem is deeper. I will try to use the WSL2 or install a VMWare virtual machine.