From 6d3312fe89b1ec333accb4f8c78c50ea046ffbad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Owen <owen@txv.io>
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2026 16:01:45 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] Add some preflight check for vnc reachability

---
 browsergateway/vnc.go | 27 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 27 insertions(+)

diff --git a/browsergateway/vnc.go b/browsergateway/vnc.go
index 62f4065..f104a8d 100644
--- a/browsergateway/vnc.go
+++ b/browsergateway/vnc.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package browsergateway
 
 import (
 	"context"
+	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
 	"net/http"
@@ -44,6 +45,18 @@ func (g *Gateway) handleVNC(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 	target := net.JoinHostPort(host, port)
 
+	// Optional HTTP probe used by the web UI to surface backend reachability
+	// failures before attempting a WebSocket session.
+	if r.URL.Query().Get("checkOnly") == "1" {
+		if err := dialVNCBackend(r.Context(), target); err != nil {
+			logger.Debug("vnc: preflight failed (%s): %v", target, err)
+			http.Error(w, fmt.Sprintf("failed to connect to VNC backend: %v", err), http.StatusBadGateway)
+			return
+		}
+		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusNoContent)
+		return
+	}
+
 	// Accept the WebSocket. noVNC negotiates the "binary" subprotocol;
 	// fall back gracefully when the client sends "base64" as well.
 	ws, err := websocket.Accept(w, r, &websocket.AcceptOptions{
@@ -63,6 +76,20 @@ func (g *Gateway) handleVNC(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 }
 
+func dialVNCBackend(ctx context.Context, target string) error {
+	dialer := &net.Dialer{
+		Timeout:   vncDialTimeout,
+		KeepAlive: vncKeepAlive,
+	}
+	conn, err := dialer.DialContext(ctx, "tcp", target)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	defer conn.Close() //nolint:errcheck
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 func serveVNC(ctx context.Context, ws *websocket.Conn, target string) error {
 	// Dial the VNC backend TCP server.
 	dialer := &net.Dialer{