vnc problems

jon_k · 08-12-2003, 10:54 PM

OKAY, I can't seem to be able to get someone to be able to remotely control my desktop (move the mouse on a current x session, so both me and the remote user can see the same stuff)

I can start vncserver via command line but they'd see their own desktop, not the desktop I see.

I don't have KDE installed... so, I can't use their built-in thing... anyone know how I can do this?

Thanks!

acid_kewpie · 08-13-2003, 02:57 AM

you can't. That only happens on windows as windows is a toy that doesn't employ a useful client server WIMP environment. i'd suggest creating a vnc server as normal and then connecting to it locally as well as remotely.

jon_k · 08-13-2003, 04:41 AM

okay, anyone else have a suggestion? ;-)

bobthebaritone · 08-13-2003, 05:10 AM

VNC depends upon a number of things to be working to run OK. If you don't have a window manager, namely KDE, FVM, TWM etc, then it makes it pretty hard for a window system to be displayed.

At a minimum, check in the account that has the vnc running. You should have a .vnc directory that has an xstartup script. In this script is where you will want to put the startup window manager.

I found that I had to remove orphaned vnc sessions - just remove the old files and you should be OK.

Don't forget to remember that after running vncserver to not which display your remote session needs to connect to -eg pc.internet.com.au:0.0 or pc.internet.com.au:1.0

bobthebaritone · 08-13-2003, 05:13 AM

BTW - control of your desktop isn't what Linux VNC is about - they get a completely new session!

Through a logged in session, on a multiuser system like linux, they should be able to make changes to your windows etc.

I like to put xeyes up on reomte displays and then say - -"I'm watching you!"

(8-))))

jon_k · 08-13-2003, 06:07 AM

So what would I type for someone to be able to control my currently logged in session -- so say, someone could see all windows that are currently open on X display 0:0?

jon_k · 08-13-2003, 06:11 AM

Let me elaborate on why I want this... say, if I'm having a problem I can watch what my friend does to fix the problem remotely.

This is easier and safer for me because I don't have to give them my root password (I can type SU and type the pass without them seeing it) and let them do the stuff and learn from what they do.

If I let them go off into their own little personal desktop that I can't see -- they could do whatever they want without me seeing it, and without me being able to type some bullcrap characters in (say if they did rm -rf /

) to make the command mess up