How to launch Krfb using the command line?

bnj · 02-16-2006, 03:13 AM

Hello,

I'd like to access my desktop from a remote machine. I can easily log in to my computer using ssh. But I would like to have a graphical interface. So I would like to use VNC. I have installed Krfb on my computer and it works fine.
But in order to make it really usefull, I would have to be able to launche the Krfb server using the command-line. Because that is the only thing I can do when I am not physically on my computer. How do I do this?

Thank you,

Benjamin

PTrenholme · 02-16-2006, 06:15 AM

Have you tried enabling X forwarding in /etc/sshd.conf, and using ssh -X -l username host to log in with X active?

bnj · 02-16-2006, 06:36 AM

Yes. And it works. But what if I am on a client that does not support X. (Windows, OSX, ...). I should still be able to use VNC, should I not? So I'd like to be able to launch a VNC server on my linux-machine without the need of opening the Krfb window. I cannot believe there is no way to do so. I just want to know the command that I have to type for that.

Thank you,

Benjamin

PTrenholme · 02-16-2006, 08:11 AM

Yes, you should. What do you have in your ~/.kde/share/kinetdrc and kinetd.events files? It's been a while since I used mine, but they look like this:

Code:

$ cat ~/.kde/share/config/kinetdrc
[ListenerConfig]
enable_srvreg_krfb=true
enable_srvreg_krfb_httpd=true
enabled_expiration_krfb=2935093,2,28,0,0,0
enabled_expiration_krfb_httpd=2935093,2,28,0,0,0
enabled_krfb=true
enabled_krfb_httpd=true
$ cat ~/.kde/share/config/kinetd.eventsrc
[IncomingConnection]
commandline=
logfile=
presentation=4
soundfile=

[ProcessFailed]
commandline=
logfile=
presentation=4
soundfile=

I'd suggest setting up a few invitations on you system, and looking at how the settings change (especially the expiration ones) to see if you could just leave some open invitations for your clients on your system. (CAUTION: This may be a security risk. Try to limit access to the port (:5000, I think) to known IP addresses in your firewall.[/b])

I notice that there is a --kinetd option listed when you do a $ krfb --help-all command, but -- as you probably know -- the KDE Krfb help file is somewhat less than complete, so I've no idea how it might be used.

Another option, again not well documented is the --waitforwm one. I don't know what the WM_NET protocol for which that instructs krfb to wait is, but you might try it from a client system to see if it tries to open a window on the client system using the local window manager.

Edit: Have you looked at this HOW-TO?

bnj · 03-20-2006, 01:56 PM

Hello!
Remember me?
It's been a while, right?
Well. It looked so complicated that I was discouraged and did not look at this problem anymore until now.
I just found the solution to my problem!
Actually, there are two solutions. The first one is called vncserver, the second is called x11vnc.
vncserver is cool if no X-session is on on the remote PC. For example if the remote PC has no screen at all, or if nobody is logged in. Connect to your remote host via ssh, and then type

Code:

vncserver

You will be prompted for a password: You can type anything there, but remember it! This is the password that your VNC-client will need to connect to your PC. That's all, you can now launch your VNC-client.

x11vnc is cool if somebody is already logged in on the remote computer, and you want to see the same screen he does. Log in on the remote computer as this user. Then type

Code:

x11vnc

And there you are. You can now launch your VNC-client.

Three issues that I have not solved yet (but I guess a bit of googling will do that):
- vncserver gives a pretty bad resolution. I guess there is an option to change that.
- x11vnc does not by default create a password-protected VNC-session. I think there is a way to change that but I still have to look how it works.
- x11vnc closes the session as soon as the client disconnects. When does vncserver close the session?

ph_gachoud · 11-06-2009, 08:08 AM

You should try:

Code:

krfb --display :0

and then connect to it, but dont forget to set the ~/.kde/share/config/krfbrc file with following content:

Quote:

[Invitations]
invitation_num=0

[Notification Messages]
systemtrayquitDesktop Sharing=false

[Security]
allowUninvitedConnections=true
askOnConnect=false
uninvitedConnectionPassword=<SetPasswordHere>

Then you can try to connect with:

Quote:

krdc localhost:10000

if you did a port forwarding like

Quote:

ssh -p22 -L10000:192.168.2.92:5900 sshUser@sampleSite.dyndns.org

It resolved my problem... hoping it helps...

Lunar · 02-09-2019, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnj

Hello,

But in order to make it really usefull, I would have to be able to launche the Krfb server using the command-line. Because that is the only thing I can do when I am not physically on my computer. How do I do this?

Benjamin

How I do it is:
ssh to remote system
# krfb --nodialog

also you can put the same command in your kde system settings (configure desktop) > startup and shutdown applet under Application.

Landis.