Troubleshooting Black Screen on Server Startup

## Symptom

After the server starts, the local monitor displays a black screen, or the remote desktop session does not show the expected desktop output.

## Common Scenario

This issue may occur when:
- The monitor is connected through the VGA port.
- A display adapter, decoder, or dummy plug is connected through the HDMI port.
- The operating system is outputting the desktop to a different display than the one being viewed.

### Hardware Connection Example

The following example shows a setup where the monitor is connected to the VGA port and another display device is connected to the HDMI port.

![Hardware connection example](https://docs.paraverse.cc/media/202504/ad0428d25de94e80bf65e48e9f2137906838.png)

## Cause

The system may be configured to extend the desktop to another display output. In this case, the primary screen used for local viewing or remote control may remain black even though the system is running normally.

## Solution

### 1. Check the Physical Display Connections

Confirm how the display devices are connected:
- Local monitor connected to the VGA port.
- HDMI display adapter, decoder, or dummy plug connected to the HDMI port.

If multiple display outputs are connected, the operating system may detect them as separate monitors.

### 2. Log In Remotely to the Server

Use a remote access tool such as Sunlogin or VNC to connect to the server and inspect the current display configuration.

### 3. Check Display Settings

On the server, open the operating system display settings and review the multi-monitor configuration.

If **Extend these displays** is enabled, the desktop may be shown on a different output.

![Display settings example](https://docs.paraverse.cc/media/202504/ec564d82aab44547847fb2acf763e5395817.png)

Change the display mode as needed:
- Switch to **Duplicate these displays**, or
- Set the required screen as the primary display, based on the deployment scenario.

### 4. Apply the Changes Locally

Some display settings may need to be confirmed directly on the server machine. If the remote session does not fully resolve the issue, perform the display adjustment locally and verify the output again.

## Additional Notes

- If Sunlogin is used for remote troubleshooting, confirm that the server has network connectivity and remote control access before changing display settings.
- If VNC is used, local display settings may still need to be modified on the server itself for the change to take full effect.
- After updating the display configuration, restart the remote session and confirm that the correct screen output is visible.