ok, I am new to linux, and I would like to start vncserver. When I do [service vncserver status] it says Xvnc is stopped. so I did [service vncserver restart] and it seemed to do it ok, but when I did [service vncserver status] again, it stil said Xvnc is stopped.

So i tried [service Xvnc status] and it does not recognize it as a service....I need help.

you can simply start a vnc session by typing vncserver, the first you do that you will be asked for a password. after that you can connect to from any machine qith vnc by typing ip:1

if you want to startup the default desktop manager edit the file 'homedir'/.vnc/xstartup and follow the intructions in it.

if you did not define any vncserver displays/options in /etc/sysconfig/vncservers then when starting vncserver service there is nothing for it to start. if there is nothing for it to start then nothing will be running and its status will report stopped

try editiing /etc/sysconfig/vncservers (there is a really generic example in there)

jdogpc is correct if you want a single (quick) instance of vnc, just run vncserver with options from the command-line and editing ~/.vnc/xstartup will allow for desktop manager (or other options) to load

if you set it in the /etc/sysconfig/vncservers you can then set vncservers service to start on boot so that even after a reboot your vnc sessions will be started again.

hope this helps

thanks guys....now that works, so now when I connect....It shows X-windows.....how can I do it so it uses gnome?


thanks alot

view my reply 3 before this one

I see that, but if does not have directions for gnome, and I do not know what the path is to type in.

this is the 'homedir'/.vnc/xstartup file

so I uncommented those lines, but it looks like the line "exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc" has something to do with X-windows, I want it to be gnome.

Sorry about that.

just uncomment the first two lines

unset SESSION_MANAGER
exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

and comment all the other.
this should start your default windows manager. By default RedHat and Fedora start Gnome Window manager, bu in case it does not start, edit the file /etc/X11/xinit/Xclients and append
gnome-session to the line PREFERRED=, so that it reads PREFERRED=gnome-session
You can also edit the file /etc/sysconfig/desktop and change the line from DESKTOP="" to DESKTOP="GNOME".

This two options change the default windows manager for everybody on your system.

Have fun.

it works!!!

thank you so much guys

I can get the vnc server to work, however I was hoping to be able to login and see what is currently displayed on the screen (ie if I have a monitor attached I can see the mouse moving on it as well as the vnc window).

If anyone knows how to make that work I would be greatly appreciated.

PS I am trying to get it to work with Win2VNC which allows you to use one mouse and keyboard sort of like a KVM switch with seperate monitors.

Well I found out how to fix that problem and now I can almost connect, but I don't know what password to use. Any ideas??

Whe you start the server for the first time it asks you which one you would like.
The second way is just to use the 'vncpasswd' and restart the server (i'm not sure though if you have to restart it).

enjoy.

if you use vncpasswd to change the password you shouldnt need to restart the vncserver. the vncpasswd file is checked each time a connection is made. once you change your password, simply connect to the vncserver and use the password given.