Linux Networking Cookbook

8.15. Using VNC for Remote Linux -to-Linux Administration

Problem

You want to use VNC to control other Linux PCs from your Linux box.

Solution

Install the VNC server and viewers of your choice on both Linux PCs. In this recipe, we'll use TightVNC. Fire up the VNC server on the first PC. This example shows a first-time startup that creates the server's configuration files and password:

	carla@windbag:~$ tightvncserver
	You will require a password to access your desktops.
	Password:
	Verify:
	New 'X' desktop is windbag:1
	Creating default startup script /home/carla/.vnc/xstartup
	Starting applications specified in /home/carla/.vnc/xstartup
	Log file is /home/carla/.vnc/windbag:1.log

Then, it exits. Start it up again:

	carla@windbag:~$ tightvncserver
	New 'X' desktop is windbag:2
	Starting applications specified in /home/carla/.vnc/xstartup
	Log file is /home/carla/.vnc/windbag:2.log

Notice that it helpfully tells you everything you need to know: the connection parameters, configuration file, and logfile locations.

Now, run over to Linux PC number two, open a VNC viewer, and connect with the hostname:

	windbag:2

Or, use the IP address:

	192.168.1.28:2

It will ask for a password, and there you are.

You can shutdown tightvncserver sessions on the server like this, specifiying the session number:

	$ tightvncserver -kill :2
	Killing Xtightvnc process ID 24306

Note that you must append a session number because Linux supports running multiple VNC servers at the same time.

Discussion

If you configured the server to ...