Using VNC to connect to X-Windows display

Introduction

Before VNC, we may use Xming or XWin32 to connect to a proper configured X-Windows Server.  This requires few X-Windows Server setup to get it done.

Since Fedora 7, there is a new service to connect to X Windows Server much easily.  This service is VNCServer.

Installation

Using yum to query and install for vnc-server rpm packages:

# yum list vnc-server
Installed Packages
vnc-server.i386                          4.1.2-23.fc8           installed

# yum install vnc-server.i386

VNC Server Configuration

1. Define VNC server instances in /etc/sysconfig/vncservers:

   VNCSERVERS="1:myuser"
   VNCSERVERSARGS[1]="-geometry 1024x768 -nohttpd"
   

2. Each VNC server instance listens on port 5900 plus the display number on which the server runs. In our case, myuser’s vnc server would listen on port 5901 (5900 + 1).
3. You may setup multiple vnc instance as well:

   VNCSERVERS="1:myuser 2:user01 3:user02"
   VNCSERVERARGS[1]="-geometry 1024x768 -depth 16"
   VNCSERVERARGS[2]="-geometry 800x600 -depth 8"
   VNCSERVERARGS[3]="-geometry 1024x768 -depth 16"
   

4. In this case, the vnc server would listen on port 5901, 5902 and 5903 respectively.
5. In myuser's account, setup vnc password for the user:
   
   # vncpasswd
   
6. Start VNC Server:
   
   # service vncserver restart
   # chkconfig vncserver on
   
7. Define a new Firewall rule (/etc/sysconfig/iptables):
   
   -A RH-Firewall-1-INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport 5901 -j ACCEPT

More User Configuration

Once vncserver has startup for the first time, it will create a default xstartup config file.  You may define your own startup script:

# vi /home/myuser/.vnc/xstartup

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
unset SESSION_MANAGER
exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
# xsetroot -solid grey
# vncconfig -iconic &
# xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
# twm &

Connect to VNC Server

You may use any vesion of vncviewer to connect to the VNC Server.  For example, download TightVNC viewer for Windows.  The connection string is something like:

myhost:5901

Enter password and you may connect to your X windows service remotely.

Reference:

1. Set up the VNC Server in Fedora