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Setting up VNC on Linux

X11 VNC (recommended)

1. Update
   • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
2. Install server
   • sudo apt-get install x11vnc vnc4server
3. Start server for one session
   • sudo x11vnc -display :0 - the same display as is shown on the server's local monitor.
4. Possible arguments
   • -auth guess - easy mode
   • -auth /var/gdm/:0.Xauth
     • run ps wwaux | grep auth and look for the string after -auth to get the actual location of the xauth file
   • this forum post might be helpful in turning this into a service to run in the background and not just manually run. However, make sure you up the security first!

XTightVNC (not recommended)

Single Use Scenario

1. Do the usual
   • sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y
2. Install tightVNC server
   • sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
3. Do a first run on the vnc server
   • tightvncserver
4. Run the server:
   • vncserver :0 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24

Start at boot

1. Create a file at /etc/init.d/
   • sudo nano /etc/init.d/vncboot

2. Paste in the following text:

   #!/bin/sh
   ### BEGIN INIT INFO
   # Provides: vncboot
   # Required-Start: $remote_fs $syslog
   # Required-Stop: $remote_fs $syslog
   # Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
   # Default-Stop: 0 1 6
   # Short-Description: Start VNC Server at boot time
   # Description: Start VNC Server at boot time.
   ### END INIT INFO
   
   USER=root
   HOME=/root
   
   export USER HOME
   
   case "$1" in
   start)
   echo "Starting VNC Server"
   #Insert your favoured settings for a VNC session
   /usr/bin/vncserver :0 -geometry 1280x800 -depth 16 -pixelformat rgb565
   ;;
   
   stop)
   echo "Stopping VNC Server"
   /usr/bin/vncserver -kill :0
   ;;
   
   *)
   echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/vncboot {start|stop}"
   exit 1
   ;;
   esac
   
   exit 0

3. Save and exit (Ctrl-o and Ctrl-x)
4. Set permissions
   • sudo chmod 755 /etc/init.d/vncboot
5. Do this thing
   • sudo update-rc.d /etc/init.d/vncboot defaults
   • use relative paths if it errors
6. reboot and connect!

this document last modified: July 07 2018 02:00

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