I am running Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server release 5.4 (Tikanga)

I've tried probably a dozen changes to my xstartup file and I'll post the various configurations I've tried but first I'll explain my issue.

I am trying to vnc into our server. It worked fine earlier today and I was able to see a gnome desktop. For some reason now all I get is a black screen.
My original configuration on the server was this.
^This exact same xstartup configuration works perfectly well for another user but brings up a black screen with an X cursor for me.

On a backup server the following xstartup is the following. And it works great. But not on our live server.
I've tried commenting out twm &, I've tried variations on gnome-session, exec gnome-session, gnome-session &, exec gnome-session &.

If I comment out exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc I get a grey screen with a console and nothing else but nothing I try seems to bring back my gnome UI.
I am not logged in on another session anywhere, I've restarted the vncserver a few times and I simply cannot seem to fix this.

I've been on google looking for ideas on how to fix this for literally the past 6 hours and nothing seems to work.

Hi Zushiba,

I'm no expert on these things! But with all of my VNC sessions I remove the twm at the end of my file and I add the startx into my 'xstartup' file eg:
Also, when you restart the session, does it work for a period of time and then just die?? Also, what viewer are you using?? RealVNC, VNCViewer? and what level of encryption? I had a similar problem with a staff member that they could not view the session using one version of tightVNC ( they were getting a plain black screen) but when using the normal or vncviewer they were able to fine.
Good luck. Hope ive helped in some way.

Thanks,
Donanap

I've actually tried starx and commenting out/removing twm and neither had any affect.

I've been using UltraVNC and that worked fine for a while before it decided I would no longer get to see a desktop. I changed no settings in either UltraVNC or the xstartup file. It just suddenly stopped working all together and just for me, everyone else on the server seems to be having no problems what-so-ever. I've copied their xstartup files to no avail.

Hi,

Sorry to hear my suggestions didnt help at all. Have you checked the /etc/sysconfig/vncservers file?? make sure nothing is awry here?
also, I would suggest checking the vnc logs...

vncserver config file
vnc log files here:
Share your vnc config file details here. Also share the tail end of your vnc log file here as it should tell you what is wrong with it or display messages from last time you logged in.

Good Luck.
Donanap

Sorry this took so long to reply to I had to get back to work to get at these files.

This is pretty much what I get.
Everything seems to be commented out in the config

But it works fine for other users with the same xstartup as me and like I said it was working fine for me for a while then just stopped :/

We've restarted the server, still no good :/

EDIT: I've tried a few different clients they all show the same thing.


EDIT2: Commenting out exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc and trying startx I get a grey screen with a console and nothing else.

Same thing with

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Hi,

No probs, thanks for posting ur results. You restarted the server.. surprising this didnt help..I have seen this exact screen MANY times at my workplace.. I have not found an answer to WHY this happens...but restarting the vnc session has always fixed it for me.(Not to say we are at all having the same problem.)

Have you checked to make sure there arent any rampant processes running? Try killing them if so and restarting the vnc session? (not that this makes a lot of sense if you have rebooted... hmmm)
To kill the session:

Now restart the session:

Obviously put in your depth/geometry(screen resolution) here. But i can see from your session you are running port 1. Is anyone running a VNC session as root??

just check who else is running, ensure there's a) not currently 2 sessions running in your name. b) no body else has a conflicting port number.

Both your examples of your xstartup file are the same, im presuming this was a copy and paste error? Also, is that the end of your log file?? was sept 30th last time u logged on?? Usually current messages are WAY at the bottom of this..Would expect some errors here.
Heres 2 examples of the type of xstartup file I use.
Simple, default config file.
Other startup file.

Also, make sure all the links in your startup file ARE actually pointing to existing files.. si there a chance something got deleted or corrupted?? Anyway, long post sorry! Sorry if u've tried all these things already, just going through the usual troubleshooting, cant help asking some stupid questions.
Good Luck!
Donanap

Ah yes the double xstartup was a c&p error.

I have gone through and attempted to kill all sessions I've ever used (1-8) and up to 20 just in case though I've never had any that high.

I've reset the vncserver service itself many times and I'd think that would kill any sessions? Or am I wrong?
running (as root)
I get
Though there is no pid in /root/.vnc/ and killing 1-20 just vies me the standard And yes that's all that's in the log files. I only have access to this server during work hours and nothing changed on the 1st to post about. Same old crap pretty much.