topic title: Start vnc server on startup
Posts: 20
longtom
Joined: 28 Nov 2011
#1
Hi,

how could I install X11vnc in such a way that I can also access the log in screen from a guest machine? Right now I can only connect once logged in.


Set up:

AntiX on server with IceWM.

Linux Mint 13 on guest with mate.

Any ideas welcome.
nadir
Posts 0
nadir
#2
If i understand this correct:

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://refracta.freeforums.org/x11vnc-t223.html"
linktext was:"http://refracta.freeforums.org/x11vnc-t223.html"
====================================

then you can use xvfb to log in via vnc even if no one is logged in
( but only as root, buh).

As you will read there i use tightvncserver, and that works if someone is logged in or not, but i don't use a display manager (perhaps that is the reason, and not tightvncserver or x11vnc. I simply don't know).
Posts: 1,062
Dave
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
#3
I have vnc start at boot with this little init script, I do have setups that use the built in function that lightdm provides. The downside (for me) when using the lightdm setup is that the session does not stay"open" when you disconnect from the server. So say I was running an update on the server, I would have to leave my client connected in order for the update to complete.

This init script starts 1 vnc session (that can be access multiple times) and leaves it open
-Starts VNC with vnc4server
-sets the screen resolution to 1366x768
-sets the port it uses to 1901

To install the vnc server, as root type: apt-get update && apt-get install vnc4server

Code: Select all

#!/bin/sh
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: VNC
# Required-Start: $network
# Required-Stop: $network
# Description: start vnc server at boot
### END INIT INFO

case"$1" in
'start')
    vnc4server -geometry 1366x768 -rfbport 1901 ;
    ;;
'stop')
    killall Xvnc4 &
    ;;
*)
    echo"Usage: $0 { start | stop }"
    ;;
esac
exit 0
nadir
Posts 0
nadir
#4
For that, upgrading if it takes long or downloading or using torrents, i usually use ssh + screen at remote.
But you probably knew that already.
Posts: 1,028
SamK
Joined: 21 Aug 2011
#5
longtom wrote:how could I install X11vnc in such a way that I can also access the log in screen from a guest machine? Right now I can only connect once logged in.
At the X11VNC website, FAQ #60 might be helpful in pointing the way. It provided the basis of the method I use to do this.

========= SCRAPER REMOVED AN EMBEDDED LINK HERE ===========
url was:"http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/faq.html#faq"
linktext was:"http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/faq.html#faq"
====================================


Rather than using antiX on the server systems I build, I prefer Debian Stable+GUI, so I cannot provide specific advice. GDM is installed in the server system. It is this that is worked with to obtain the display of the log-in screen of the server system when there is no-one logged in.

The method comprises two separate sections
  • Towards the end of / etc/gdm/Init/Default is added an x11vnc command to start a server session before anyone has logged in
  • Towards the end of / etc/gdm/PostLogin/Default is added an x11vnc command which starts the x11vnc configuration GUI and connects to the existing x11vnc session.

Pure guesswork, without any testing, you might be looking at equivalent files in antiX
  • / etc/slim.conf
  • ~/.icewm/startup