Remote desktop access

[thenktor]

What are all the possibilities for remote desktop access? Some years ago I've used FreeNX but I remember compiling all this stuff was and it sometimes didn't work well. So what would you recommend nowadays? I'm interested in:
* Speed: is it usable over DSL connections?
* Setup: is it hard to setup?
* Open Source: free or commercial?
* Security: not important as long I can use a SSH tunnel for the connection
* Access: access the running desktop or open a new session?

So who can tell me something about VNC, Teamviewer, ...?

[laprjns]

Sorry, I'm no expert here but I did notice that you did not mention Remmina (http://remmina.sourceforge.net/) which is available in the Salix repos

[JRD]

I'm using X11VNC everyday (for the server part) and any VNC client :

• Speed: good, it could be tweaked to use different colors and compression to get more responsiveness if you have a bad connexion to real colors. Real colors is possible most of the time.
• Setup: Not easy, but I could help you as I remember how I've done my setup
• Open source: yes and free.
• Security: you choose. You could for example only listen to localhost and use an ssh connection with port forward to connect, or use a direct connection. You could connect using a client or a web browser : both will ask you for a password (but the password transit in clear, so better to use an ssh connection over it).
• Access: It's X11VNC, so you can access your current running session. No need to open a new empty one. Of course you could if you like.
• Drawback: Some issue with some keybaord layout problem, but maybe you will not have any problem with the german keybaord.

[pathe3]

How do I get tightvnc server working so I can see something on the viewer on another PC? I am able to connect to the server but all I get is a gray crosshatched screen. I'm using Salix LXDE. I don't care about a full desktop, just need an X terminal. Looked around other forums, but haven't figured what to do with the .vnc/xsetup file to get this working. Thought about removing the "#" to change the screen resolution and background color, but I'm not certain because of the SESSION_MANAGER and exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc entries are confusing. The xinitrc file appears to be empty? The x11vnc server worked without problem. Anyway, the file xsetup file is below:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# Slackware Linux VNC session startup script
#
unset SESSION_MANAGER
exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

# Another example of setting up desktop environment
#
# [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
# [ -r /.Xresources ] && xrdb /.Xresources
# xsetroot -solid grey
# vncconfig -iconic &
# xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title " Desktop" &
# twm &

[gapan]

@pathe,
tightvnc doesn't do that. Use x11vnc instead.

[pathe3]

I used x11vnc and it works. I forgot to mention that in my post. I want tightvnc because most of the time, I want only a terminal window and not the full desktop. The slackware .vnc/xsetup file seems to be setup differently from other distros.

[gapan]

If you want only a terminal window, use ssh.

[pathe3]

Yes, that is true. I have SSH installed. However, since vncserver works on another distro, I'm trying to do the same with with Salix. So it's not just a matter of need, but of understanding and solving a problem.

[pathe3]

OK, got it to work. Here is how to change the .vnc/xsetup file:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# Slackware Linux VNC session startup script
#
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

# Another example of setting up desktop environment
#
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r /.Xresources ] && xrdb /.Xresources
xsetroot -"#000000"
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title " Desktop" &
twm &

The "#000000" provides a black background for the x window. I think vncserver (tightVNC) might work with the entire LXDE desktop too, by changing the "twm &" to "lxde &", but I haven't tried that yet. If I can get that to work, I will post results.

Thanks for your help, always good to get additional input.

[pathe3]

OK. Here is how to get a full desktop in vncserver with LXDE window manager:

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh

# Slackware Linux VNC session startup script
#
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

# Another example of setting up desktop environment
#
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r /.Xresources ] && xrdb /.Xresources
xsetroot -"#000000"
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title " Desktop" &
startlxde &
lxsession

Keep in mind that this creates a new desktop, so it won't be in sync with the remote computer (remote and local PC desktops will be different). However, you can see the entire desktop and pretty much do whatever you want.