The linux version of TigerVNC 1.0 has the name global parameter:

Global Parameters:
  name           - The X window name (default=)

But the Windows version does not.

ie, on a system where avahi was not started? (or was the port blocked?), this error occurred (which is obscure to say the least):

Exception in thread avahi_publisher for: [('0.0.0.0', 35941)]:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/threading.py", line 525, in __bootstrap_inner
    self.run()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/shifter/net/avahi_publisher.py", line 138, in run
    self.bus.get_object(avahi.DBUS_NAME, avahi.DBUS_PATH_SERVER),
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/bus.py", line 244, in get_object
    follow_name_owner_changes=follow_name_owner_changes)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 241, in __init__
    self._named_service = conn.activate_name_owner(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/bus.py", line 178, in activate_name_owner
    return self.get_name_owner(bus_name)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/bus.py", line 355, in get_name_owner
    's', (bus_name,), utf8_strings=True)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 630, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoMemory: Not enough memory

This could also be a threading / locking issue I do not understand , here are some more errors:

Exception in thread AvahiListener:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/threading.py", line 525, in __bootstrap_inner
    self.run()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/shifter/net/avahi_listener.py", line 92, in run
    avahi.PROTO_UNSPEC, self.service_type, 'local', dbus.UInt32(0))),
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__
    return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
    **keywords)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 630, in call_blocking
    message, timeout)
DBusException: org.freedesktop.DBus.Error.NoMemory: Not enough memory

Exception in thread AvahiListener:
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/lib64/python2.6/threading.py", line 525, in __bootstrap_inner
    self.run()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/shifter/net/avahi_listener.py", line 81, in run
    self.server = dbus.Interface( self.bus.get_object(avahi.DBUS_NAME, '/'),
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/bus.py", line 244, in get_object
    follow_name_owner_changes=follow_name_owner_changes)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 259, in __init__
    self._pending_introspect = self._Introspect()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 371, in _Introspect
    require_main_loop=False)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 595, in call_async
    require_main_loop=require_main_loop)
MemoryError

It reports the full list of interfaces it listens on - this can be useful, but we should add an option to report only the host:port that is relevant for the mDNS interface we publish on.