How to get Remote Desktop working
 

I am using Suse 9.2. I am trying to get remote desktop working so I can connect to it from a Windows PC.
I have enabled it in Yast. I have configured it in the Control Center. I have even disabled the firewall entirely for troubleshooting purposes. None of these helped.
When I try connecting with the TightVnc viewer from a Windows 2003 Server, I get the error "Unable to connect to server"
If I use http to connect, it does connect. However I just get a screen in the browse with only white and black pixels... no desktop.
I know there is probably other steps to get it working through VNC, but I am at a loss...
Thanks

ok, found out part of the answer myself...
I typed hostanme:1 and the "screen" popped up. The directions in Yast specillay state to type the port number.... :(
BUT.... I still do get the black and white pixeled screen instead of a desktop... why is this happening?
The title bar of the VNC viewer says "nobody's x11 desktop" What is nobody?? I want my desktop, not nobody's :)
Thanks

I've not tried this, so bear with me. On the Windows box, try clicking "Options>>". Change the username to your actual user name. If that doesn't work (specifically if it says "antknee869's x11 desktop" for example) you may need to go to the Programs tab and tell it to run startkde.

On second thought, it might also let you in initially as nobody, if you convince it to run xdm. This might constitute a minor security hazard though, unless the communication is encrypted (I don't know if it is or not).

Do you have a seperate vncserver process running?

By default the remote desktop stuff should use the standard VNC port range starting at 5900 - the same as specifying a hostname with no port number (the port number is just added to 5900 - connecting to port :1 means you need 5901 open in your firewall for example). I'm suspicious that you needed to connect to :1. This would also explain the pixelled background rather than your desktop - it's (I think) the standard X background on SuSE.

One thing that has caught me out is that the desktop sharing stuff on SuSE doesn't always play nicely with stuff that doesn't use the standard VNC 3.3 protocol - I've had problems connection a VNC 4 viewer app to it that were resolved by using the 3.3 only option.

I initially set up remote administration and remote desktop in Yast and the Control Center (where are the config files that are created when using Yast or the Control Center?). That didn't work at all.
I then tried to set up vnc using vncserver. That kinda worked....
I can connect but all I see is the black and white "pixel" screen. It isn't even a desktop, there are no icons, no toolbar, nothing. So I really can't do anything once I am connected.
I also tried RealVnc viewer 4.1.1 and checked the option to only use 3.3 protocol. That immediatley failed saying the connection failed.
This is pretty frustrating but I appreciate your help

Have you tried the Desktop Sharing stuff rather than remote desktop?

This may be more of what you're after. If I read your OP right you're basically after the same functionality you get on Windows by running the VNC Server program? If so, it's Desktop Sharing you want - which shares the desktop you see when logged in rather than VNCServer (which starts a seperate X process to connect to - there is a way to start terminal windows in it but I can't remember off the top of my head) or Remote Desktop (can't comment on that as I haven't used it). You might have some cleaning up to do interms of extra VNC Server processes and Remote Desktop.

I use the Desktop Sharing with a general invitation (yes I know it's a security risk) together with the 4.0 VNC Viewer using the 3.3 protocol option and it works just fine. (If you get the connection failed error, try checking the Shared Desktop option in the Viewer before connecting.)

Haven't tried to use just desktop sharing. I am not familiar with it. Will it allow me to perform admin functions?
I will try it later tonight.
Thanks