vncserver grey screen

jjchan · 07-18-2004, 04:06 PM

hello! I'm a newbie, trying to get vncserver running on Mandrake Linux 10.

vncserver seems to be running fine on my Linux box. The problem is connecting to it from a Windows box.

When I connect to my Linux box from my Windows box via vncviewer, I get a grey screen.

Any ideas on why I can't seem to see my Linux desktop?

Thanks in advance.

Muddy · 07-18-2004, 07:30 PM

how are you setting up your session?

when I setup my sessions I use the following : vncserver -geometry 1240x920 -depth 8 :1

That gives me a display on my windows box that I can see while using 1280x1024 display with scrolling in the vnc window.
Also 8 bit depth to cut down on lag since i'm at work and my box is at home.
If you don't do the -depth part that may be your problem.

jjchan · 07-18-2004, 10:20 PM

hmmm... I tried your suggestion, but am still getting the grey screen...

Something that I didn't notice before: I can do a single mouse click and bring up a menu. It's basically my start menu with all the apps in it, but looks a lot simpler, graphically. I can also bring up programs with it.

Is this the extent of my remote viewing capabilities? Or is there a way that I can actually control my actual desktop on the linux box?

Muddy · 07-20-2004, 04:27 PM

you get a fresh desktop, to my knowledge and experience with vnc you cannot control the existing desktop on your machine.
However if you change the wallpaper, screensaver, move icons etc... that will reflect on your desktop on the machine when you get back to it.

jjchan · 07-20-2004, 04:44 PM

thanks for the info... that's what I needed to know... =)