VNC - Remote access

I had heard of VNC when I purchased the an HP L1000. I never had the time to make it work. I remembered it the other day & wanted to try again. I have this Linux box without a monitor hooked up most of the time. This would be just the ticket.

Server Installation:

Downloaded and untarred to the /tmp/vnc directory.

Then I ran the following command per the VNC README;

./vncinstall /usr/local/bin /usr/local/man

The program installed but the manuals didn't take. I didn't bother to try and figure this out.

Start the server:

just type vncserver and hit the enter key.
Make a note of the number, in my case purdy:1

Client Install:

Next I installed a VNC client on my Win2K laptop. It's just a basic installer, very easy.

Then I tried a connection. My Mandrake Linux VNC server is purdy:1. When the VNC viewer launched, I was presented with a basic X desktop with a simple console window.

Applications:

I used the VNC help to figure out how to launch additional apps. I figured a clock would be pretty harmless;

xclock -display purdy:1 &

Getting a Window Manager:

Edited /root/.vnc/xstartup
Replaced "twm &" with "exec gnome-session &"
Rebooted & WOW!, a nice gnome desktop when I log on with VNC

Of course I shouldn't be running as root, but I am.

To Do list:

• List of X applications available and commands to launch them

BTW:

I installed a server on a Win2K PC & then connected to that with my client. It works great. Just like Terminal Services only simpler and free. If you need remote access give it a try.