loaded VNC freeware for remote control of my linux box from windows xp workstation. worked fine until I typed "exit", thinking that is how to exit the VNC program. Now when pulling up VNC I just get a dark GUI screen. How do I enable the VNC box so that I can resume using VNC? I WAS able to type commands and get responses from the linux box, as you do with DOS prompt in windows.

This is my first experience with linux? I plan to make my entire server platform linux.

I think the vnc server should still be running. Just typing "exit" doesn't close it (in fact I think the only way to shut it down is vncserver -kill :X, where X is the screen number it is running on). Can you ssh into the linux box and see if vnc is still running?

One other assumption I'm making: From your post, it sounds as if you are running VNC across the internet. If that is the case, you need to be aware that VNC has absolutely no security whatsoever and your linux box is at extreme risk. Please investigate using VNC over an SSH tunnel. There is loads of advice on how to do that here.

I ssh into the box and found 3 roots running. looked as though 2 were remotes. I could not figure out how to kill the remotes. I am using VNC over the intrAnet on my local network. I can pull up my VNC but again the screen is just blank and I cannot get terminal to run again. on that vnc connection.

you need to ssh to the linux box using the user that started VNC
they type as he satated above:

vncserver -kill :1

when you typed exit in the vnc viewer you just shut down the console vnc was serving. in the future just close the vncviewer, don't type exit.

it worked. i had to reboot the linux box too but all is well now. thanks mucho for the help.