I have vncserver and x11vnc installed on a couple of Ubuntu Mate 15.04 machines. As I use x11vnc I connect to the "physical" console of the computer. That is I enter my credentials and login just as if I was sitting in front of the machine. I can observe what I am doing on the monitor connected to the computer.

With vncserver, I start a session on the computer from an ssh connection and then connect the session it with my viewer (Vinagre on CentOS 6). I must supply a password to access the session but it is not related to my normal login credentials. I believe that the vncserver session "belongs" to me as I am the rascal who started it over the ssh connection using my credentials to connect ssh.

Here is the issue... If I am connected to the vncserver session I am often prompted for my password for things which I can do with the x11vnc connection without being prompted. For example if the Software Updater pops up and I attempt to install updated packages (Ubuntu only requires admin authentication for some updates) I can often do so over x11vnc without authentication. Using the vncserver session I am ALWAYS prompted for my password.

I experience the same behavior if for example I attempt to reboot the computer from the Mate panel. Using x11vnc I can click on the appropriate launcher and select Restart (or Shutdown) and it works as expected. When using vncserver I am prompted for my password.

Is this the "expected" behavior? Am I not really logged on to the computer when using vncserver?

TIA,

Ken

Hello moderators. I posted this in the wrong forum. Please move to Linux - Security or Linux - Software whichever you think is best.

Thanks,

Ken