i'm trying to build the linux equivalent of symantec's pcanywhere remote control software.

my goal is to be able to remotely administer a linux file/print server just as i currently administer a windows nt server with pcanywhere. basically, i want to administer the server from my office desktop without having to find the keys and walk to the server room.

i've been experimenting with vncserver on a redhat 9.0 box and it seems to work okay if i first launch the vncserver from a command prompt at the linux box.

what i'd like to do now is automate this process so that vncserver loads and is waiting for a connection each time the server boots - similar to the way pcanywhere loads as a background service on a windows machine.

i've been experimenting with adding the vncserver command to some of the linux boot-up scripts but i haven't found the right way of doing this.

the linux server is behind a hardware firewall and i'm only concerned about accessing the server on the internal lan. i do not wish to allow outside connections through the firewall.

I just did this one the other day.. add

vncserver :2

in the etc/rc.local file

You can change :2 to whatever session number you want to use

It will prompt you for a session password the first time you boot (but only the first time)

The only downside is that the session is root

i placed the command in the /etc/rc.local file and entered a password when prompted, but the linux box generates as error during boot-up:
"vncserver: the USER environment is not set"
the xvnc process does not start so i still have to manually start vncserver at a command prompt. what am i missing?