OK, I have VNC installed and can connect but when I do, I get what seems like an empty X screen, just a screen and a cursor, I can't do anything. I didn't initially have an xstartup file but I created one that doesn't seem to do anything. I would like to log in and use KDE which is what I use when I'm physically at the machine. This is a Knoppix install if it matters. This is the output after startup:


dave@gerrybones:~$ vncserver :1

New 'X' desktop is gerrybones:1

Starting applications specified in /etc/X11/Xsession

Log file is /home/dave/.vnc/gerrybones:1.log


Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

Try doing "X>&x.log", then do a CTRL+ALT+Backspace to get out.

Read the x.log file, and post it here. There might be some clues in the errors output.

I SSHed in and ran "X>&x.log" and got this:

Server is already active for display 0
If this server is no longer running, remove /tmp/.X0-lock
and start again.


When reporting a problem related to a server crash, please send
the full server output, not just the last messages.
Please report problems to debian-x@lists.debian.org.


Is this where I am supposed to run this? I have the machine in the other room, not logged in, just sitting at the Debian login screen.

I had the same problem.

Check your .vnc/xstartup file and change your window manager in there to KDE

schwartze, I didn't have an xstartup at first so I got one from somewhere that looks like this, already has startkde in it although that doesn't work:


#!/bin/sh
xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc &
startkde & # Use KDE window manager

Threads move real fast down the pages here I see.

That is what mine looks like, minus the startkde, but I am using blackbox as my window manager.

try removing the file, starting up another vnc session - this should write a default one automatically - and make the changes in the one made by the system.

I just noticed that I do not have this line in mine:

/etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc &

well here's the weird thing. I deleted the xstartup, but it doesn't create a new one when I run vncserver. Also, when I run the client and connect, the title bar doesn't reflect what was in my xstartup when I had one, it always says "dave's X desktop", so it's as if it's not even reading my xstartup. Maybe that's the problem? I thought about reinstalling vnc but it seems like it's fine, I installed it from .deb originally.

past that, I am not sure where to go. I ran a search on VNC on the forums and there are a few threads which might help. There are some saying that you might have to kill the server before you can start up with a new window manager and a few other hints.

Run a search for it and see if any of those threads help.

Sorry I couldn't help you more.