VNC server
From Oxxus Wiki
VNC service provides a way of controlling a remote computer via remote session via Internet/Intranet network. Using Windows terminology, it's known as Remote desktop.
With Linux OS based server, you'll have to have X-windows, desktop manager and VNC services installed. For desktop computers those services are installed by default, which is not a case with VPS.
The tutorial below will show you how to create VNC server, and how to connect to it's desktop using any VNC client from remote destination.
Focus here is on Centos Linux distribution but steps are similar, if not the same, for other distributions.
VNC server installation
Once you receive VPS account activation email from Oxxus.net, you'll be able to access VPS through your domain name (if registered) or through your IP address.
Use Putty or any SSH capable client to connect to your VPS account and access to its shell prompt as root. Steps needed that are shown below are achieved on one of VPS accounts created for testing purposes.
At terminal shell prompt opened, execute command yum install vnc-server. Screen snapshot is show below.
[root@test-vnc /]# yum install vnc-server Loaded plugins: fastestmirror Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile * addons: www.gtlib.gatech.edu * base: centos.mirrors.tds.net * extras: centos.corenetworks.net * rpmforge: apt.sw.be * updates: mirror.cogentco.com Setting up Install Process Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package vnc-server.i386 0:4.1.2-14.el5_5.4 set to be updated --> Processing Dependency: libXtst.so.6 for package: vnc-server --> Processing Dependency: xorg-x11-xauth for package: vnc-server --> Running transaction check ---> Package libXtst.i386 0:1.0.1-3.1 set to be updated ---> Package xorg-x11-xauth.i386 1:1.0.1-2.1 set to be updated --> Processing Dependency: libXmuu.so.1 for package: xorg-x11-xauth --> Running transaction check ---> Package libXmu.i386 0:1.0.2-5 set to be updated --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ========================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ========================================================================================== Installing: vnc-server i386 4.1.2-14.el5_5.4 updates 2.0 M Installing for dependencies: libXmu i386 1.0.2-5 base 62 k libXtst i386 1.0.1-3.1 base 15 k xorg-x11-xauth i386 1:1.0.1-2.1 base 31 k Transaction Summary ======================================================================================== Install 4 Package(s) Upgrade 0 Package(s) Total download size: 2.1 M Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: (1/4): libXtst-1.0.1-3.1.i386.rpm | 15 kB 00:00 (2/4): xorg-x11-xauth-1.0.1-2.1.i386.rpm | 31 kB 00:00 (3/4): libXmu-1.0.2-5.i386.rpm | 62 kB 00:00 (4/4): vnc-server-4.1.2-14.el5_5.4.i386.rpm | 2.0 MB 00:00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 2.8 MB/s | 2.1 MB 00:00 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Finished Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : libXtst 1/4 Installing : libXmu 2/4 Installing : xorg-x11-xauth 3/4 Installing : vnc-server 4/4 Installed: vnc-server.i386 0:4.1.2-14.el5_5.4 Dependency Installed: libXmu.i386 0:1.0.2-5 libXtst.i386 0:1.0.1-3.1 xorg-x11-xauth.i386 1:1.0.1-2.1 Complete! [root@test-vnc /]#
With prompt released, you'll have VNC server installed, which needs configuration, shown below:
VNC server configuration
Edit file with command nano /etc/sysconfig/vncservers. Add following lines at the end of file and save changes with CTRL-O.
VNCSERVERS="1:root" VNCSERVERARGS[1]="-geometry 1024x768 -depth 16"
Define password for accessing server via vnc service with command
[root@test-vnc /]# vncpasswd Password: xxxxxx Verify: xxxxxx
Start server with command:
[root@test-vnc /]# service vncserver start
If everything goes well, you'll have VNC server started and ready to receive and serve remote desktop session at port :1.
It'll be accessible at server's ip address assigned to VPS account, via any VNC capable client.
At the moment, there won't be anything at the screen when you access server. This is because there is no graphical service nor dekstop windows manager installed. Installation and configuration steps are show below.
To install X-Windows server use command:
[root@test /]# yum -y install xorg*
It'll install X-Windows service with all features required. Now, the desktop window manager will be needed. Follow steps below to install KDE windows desktop manager service. Using same steps, you can install others if needed, like Gome.
Execute command as shown below and leave installation manager to take care of it for you:
[root@test /]# yum -y install kde*
Once done, all you have to do is to use installed X-Windows and KDE windows manger for incoming VNC session requests.
Edit file ~/.vnc/xstartup as shown:
[root@test /]# nano ~/.vnc/xstartup
Nano editor will open file with contents shown below:
#!/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" & startkde & #twm &
Comment twm & and make changes as above. Save changes. Stop vncsver with command service vnc server stop, and start it up again with service vnc server start.
Your VNC server with X-Windows and KDE desktop window manager is now fully installed and you can access it via VNC client application.
