Set up a terminal server using VNC

I want to set up a terminal server using VNC. This will enable you to work on a remote computer and use your local computer as a display only. For this example I used SUSE Linux 13.1 but it should work same or similar on other distributions as well.

Procedure

• install VNC incl. the config files for xinetd

yast -i xorg-x11-Xvnc

• edit /etc/xinet.d/vnc to contain

service vnc1
{
       socket_type     = stream
       protocol        = tcp
       wait            = no
       user            = nobody
       server          = /usr/bin/Xvnc
       server_args     = -securitytypes=none -noreset -inetd -once -query localhost -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16
       type            = UNLISTED
       port            = 5901
}

• start xinetd

xinetd

• Start yast -> System -> /etc/sysconfig editor -> Desktop -> Display manager -> DISPLAYMANAGER_REMOTE_ACCESS to yes and restart the display manager service with the command
• rcxdm restart

TroubleShooting

No password configured

• now I got an error message

No password configured for VNC Auth

-securitytypes=none

• xinetd re start

Not a valid vnc server

Symptom

When starting vncviewer you get an error message like this:

# vncviewer 54.186.202.224:1
Not a valid VNC server

An strace delivers a line like

read(4, "Unrecognized option: -bla\n", 8192) = 26
write(2, "Not a valid VNC server\n", 23Not a valid VNC server

Reason

In /etc/xinetd.d/vnc you have provided an illegal server option, in this case bla.

Solution

Remove the illegal server option from /etc/xinet.d/vnc and restart xinetd.

No window comes up

Symptom

After typing

vncviewer whatever:1

no window comes up

Reason 1

The firewall on the vnc server is active

Solution 1

Allow access for VNC on the firewall on the server or shut it down, e.g. for SUSE Linux:

rcSuSEfirewall2 stop

You only see a black screen

Symptom

You only see a black screen in vncviewer

Solution

Start yast -> System -> /etc/sysconfig editor -> Desktop -> Display manager -> DISPLAYMANAGER_REMOTE_ACCESS to yes and restart the display manager service with the command

rcxdm restart

root logins are not allowed

Symptom

When trying to log in as root you get the error message

root logins are not allowed

You have set AllowRootLogin=true in /usr/share/kde4/config/kdm/kdmrc or whereever you have to set it

Reason

The sysconfig contains a setting to allow or disallow remote root logins.

Solution

For SUSE, call yast2 -> System -> Sysconfig editor -> Desktop -> Display Manager -> DISPLAYMANAGER_ROOT_LOGIN_REMOTE and set it to "yes"

See also

• VNC
• terminal server