Install VNC Server on RH5 Enterprise

VNC Server is simple software used to remotely access other computers over a local network or the internet. With the help of Data Encryption and Secure Login your information will be kept confidential.

VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing, and it uses 2 small programs: Server and Viewer. The Server handles the service, and "serves" the access to the host computer. The Viewer is used to access the computer where the server is installed and configured. There are many interesting and time saving uses of the VNC Server, such as in a System Administration or Help Desk Scenario, where the Administrator or technician uses it to access the user's computer and diagnose/fix any problems without the need of phyjavascript:void(0)sically going to his desktop. Another common scenario is in a classroom, where students can access the instructor's computer and from their screen they can see step by step what is being done.

With VNC Server, Free Edition is compatible with almost all versions of Microsoft Windows, from 95 to Vista, and also, depending on the license, with Linux, Solaris, MacOS. Besides the Server Free Edition, Personal and Enterprise Editions are available, depending on the user's needs.

How to install on Redhat Enterprise Linux 5
1. Check if you have vnc-server package already installed
rpm -q vnc server
2. If not, just got your cd installer, and find the file vnc-server. The file that I used on this installation is : vnc-server-4.1.2-14.el5_3.1.i386.rpm then install it.
rpm -ivh vnc-server-4.1.2-14.el5_3.1.i386.rpm

3. VNC Server requires 5000-5999 ports to be opened on firewall.

a. Click on System > Administration > Security Level and Firewall
b. Click other port > Add > enter 5000-5999 to the ports box
c. Click OK.



3. You need to enable Remote Visual Access.

Open the the file /root/.vnc/xstartup with a text editor and uncomment the following lines by remove the # sign from the line:
#unset SESSION_MANAGER
#exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
4. Running the VNC Server

vncserver :1

This command will ask you to set an access password. You can later change this initial password with vncpasswd command.

4. Restarting the VNC Server

service vncserver restart

5. From Windows you can try to access to Red Hat using VNC Viewer.







More Resources:

http://vnc-server-free-edition.software.informer.com/
http://kbase.redhat.com/faq/FAQ_79_3976.shtm
http://www.tightvnc.com/vncserver.1.html