VNC Setup

Set up a VNC connection from a offsite Windows to a SLAC Linux

(06/28/2011)

Procedure to set up a vnc connection from a windows computer to a linux computer on the SLAC network, example uses iris01,

based on L. Piccoli's web site
http://www.slac.stanford.edu/~lpiccoli/vncssh

• Initial set up:

  • Download vnc for windows viewer software executable:
    http://www.realvnc.com/products/free/4.1/winvncviewer.html
    (Make shortcut on desktop)

 

• Create vnc password on one of the SLAC network Linux computers

• login to iris01

  • Create password for vnc:

    • > vncpasswd

     

• Protect password from everyone:
  • > fs setacl ~/.vnc system:slac none
  • > fs setacl ~/.vnc system:authuser none
• Start vnc server to create xstartup file:
  • > vncserver -localhost -nolisten tcp -geometry 1440x900

  or

  • > ~/bin/startvnc
    • remember 'display number' in the output

     

• Kill server:
  • vncserver -kill :'display number'

 

• Edit vnc xstartup file:

• > emacs ~/.vnc/xstartup
  • change last line from "twm" & to "startkde&", save and close

   

• Start vnc server again for good:
  • >  vncserver -localhost -nolisten tcp -geometry 1440x900
    • Use any other different geometry if you like

Every time:

• On Windows:
  • start putty, on configuration screen:
    
  • Enter host name: iris01.slac.stanford.edu
    
  • SSH/Tunnels tab: Source port: 5902, Destination: localhost:5901
    
  • Open session, enter password

or

• start putty command line tools, enter:
  • putty -ssh -L 5902:localhost:5901 iris01.slac.stanford.edu
    
  • enter password

 

Check if vnc server is running:

• ps -fu 'your name' | grep -i vnc
• If not, start server (see above)
  • Click on vnc-viewer desktop shortcut
  • Enter Server: localhost:5902, hit OK
  • Enter vnc password