VNC Virtual Network Computing

These directions are for remotely connecting to a Linux computer using a VNC server.

Must have a good internet connection in order for it to not be extremely slow, but note that the school's VPN may be the issue if connection is really slow.

We will be using either TigerVNC or RealVNC, which include the VNC Viewer and the VNC Server.

1. A secure shell (ssh) client is required. On Windows, use PuTTY.
2. The UND VPN is also required. UNDvpnInstructions
   1. When logging into the vpn, use vpn.ndus.edu instead of vpn.und.edu
3. Login to PuTTY with your NDUS login. (firstname.lastname, ndus password)
4. Enter vncpasswd into PuTTY to create a password file in ~/.vnc. The password can only be up to 8 characters long.
5. Create a file in ~/.vnc called xstartup containing the following code:

   #!/bin/sh
   
   vncconfig -iconic &
   
   unset SESSION_MANAGER
   unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
   exec /usr/bin/xfce4-session
   
   [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
   [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
   xsetroot -solid grey
   vncconfig -iconic &

6. Make this file executable with the command chmod +x xstartup
7. Create another file in ~/.vnc called config that contains this line:

   session=xfce

8. If you have not already been assigned a display number, scroll down and add your name with the next available number, or ask to be given the number of an inactive user.
9. You will need a VNC viewer. (May need to be downloaded). Name: Either TigerVNC or RealVNC Viewer. (Preference for Tiger, download latest version https://tigervnc.org/)
10. Run PuTTY and start your VNC session with the command systemctl start vncserver@:#.service, replacing the # with your display number.
11. Run your VNC viewer and enter the hostname, e.g. littlestorm.atmos.und.edu:#, again replacing # with your display number.
12. Log in with the password you created earlier
13. You should now be looking at a window containing a linux desktop!
14. When you are finished with the VNC, please return to PuTTY and enter the command systemctl stop vncserver@:#.service, again replacing # with your display number. This will end your VNC session on the server, freeing up important resources.

* Simplified steps for future use after initial set up:

1. Start the UND VPN
2. Open PuTTY and login.
3. Enter systemctl start vncserver@:#.service
4. Open VNC Viewer, enter host name, and login.
5. When you are finished, return to PuTTY and enter systemctl stop vncserver@:#.service

Linux has several options for a desktop environment, which include GNOME and Xfce. GNOME is the default, but it seems to take up to 20GB of memory on busy servers like Littlestorm after running for several weeks/months. Hence, users should use the Xfce environment instead of GNOME on Littlestorm.

If you set up your VNC using the 06/2026 instructions at the top of the page, then you will already be using Xfce. To be sure, look at the top left of the VNC window. If the symbol to the left of Applications is a blue X with a mouse in front, you're running Xfce. If your VNC was set up previously and uses GNOME, please swap to Xfce when possible. To do so, edit your xstartup file and make sure it contains the lines

unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
exec /usr/bin/xfce4-session

Get rid of the line exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc if it is present. You will also need to create a config file in ~/.vnc that contains

session=xfce

If you already have a config file, make sure it contains this line. The next time you start your VNC session, it should be running Xfce.

1. You must first create a vnc file on the computer you are wishing to gain external access to (the server computer).
2. Make sure you add this file to /home/<username>/.vnc/
3. To make the new file (an xstartup file), paste the sample code below into a text file.
4. After you have created the startup file, go to a terminal window and type vncpasswd, next enter the password you would like to use when accessing the server computer. (This will only be your VNC password when you are starting VNC)
5. In a terminal window type in vncserver to start the server. More information and functions about starting and killing the server in the Extra Information section of this page.
6. Make sure this file is executable. If not, make executable by typing chmod +x xstartup in terminal window

#!/bin/sh


# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
mate-session &

#!/bin/sh

#Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey 
vncconfig -iconic &
#xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
mate-session &

• To Start Server:
  • Type into a terminal window (on the server computer): vncserver
  • You can also choose the display number by using this command: vncserver :* (where * is the display number, make sure you watch your spacing!)
  • This will keep the server running until the computer is restarted or the power fails. This is also the reason why the computers in the computer labs are left on.
  • Next, go back onto your local machine, and create the directory

    mkdir /home/<user.name>/bin

  • Now, create a new text file in vim (for example)

    vi vncaircraft

  • In that text file you need to insert “ps -ef | grep -i Xvnc”

#!/bin/bash
# Shell Access Aircraft using vnc client
export VNC_VIA_CMD='/usr/bin/ssh -2 -c aes128-cbc -x -p 22 -f -L %L:%H:%R %G sleep 2'
/usr/bin/vncviewer -FullColor -passwd ~/.vnc/passwd -via aircraft.atmos.und.edu :1

• Note: You will need to manipulate part of this text file to match the server you're trying to connect to.
• Note: you may need to change the server session number in the the created txt file to the server number you activated in the remote server: 'aircraft.atmos.und.edu :*' … * = the server number.
• You also need to make this new text file that you created executable

  chmod +x vncaircraft

• Next (still on your local machine), you need to create the same password as you did on the remote server.

  vncpasswd

  If it asks you if you would like to enter a view-only password say yes.

• Finally, on your local machine go back to the

  /home/<user.name>/bin

  directory and run vncaircraft

  ./vncaircraft

• To View Display Number
  • List the contents of the ~/.vnc directory on the remote computer (where the VNC server is running)
  • The display number of the currently running VNC server will be after the colon:

ls ~/.vnc/*.pid
computer_name:1.pid

• To Terminate Server:
  • Type into a terminal window (on the server computer): vncserver -kill :* (where * is the number of the display)

• To View All Running VNC Sessions
  • List all currently running sessions of VNC by username.
  • Please make sure you have only 1 instance of VNC running at a time!

ps -ef | grep -i Xvnc

1. Go to the website: https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/
2. Select your OS and click Download VNC Viewer
3. Install as you would normally per your OS

1) Connect to the campus' VPN

2) Use PuTTY or the like to connect to the computer you want to remotely access

• List of Computers in Clifford 422

3) Start the VNC server as described in the Starting and Killing the Remote Linux VNC Server section and take note of the display number you are assigned

• Example: After starting VNC server, you should get output something like this:

  New 'computer_name.atmos.und.edu:1 (username)' desktop is computer_name.atmos.und.edu:1

• The :1 is the display number you have been assigned to run the VNC server on

4) Exit out of PuTTY while keeping the previous terminal open, reopen PuTTY, and type the following:

• In the Sessions tab and in the Host Name or IP address tab, retype the computer you were just connected to
• Navigate to the SSH > Tunnels tab and type in the Source port box: 59?? where ?? is the display number assigned to you. For example 09 or 16.
  • Note that display numbers beyond the single digits will change the form to 59?? , where ?? is for example 09 or 16.
• In the same tab, type into the Destination box: localhost:59?? where ?? is the display number assigned to you.
  • Note that display numbers beyond the single digits will change the form to localhost:59??.
• Click Add (next to the Source port box) and click the Open button on the bottom of the window
• Remember to save your settings for easy future use. To save, go under “Session” and put in a Host Name (for example “localhost” and a Saved Sessions name (for example “Local”). Select Save. Next time, selection the session name (for example “Local”) and Load.
• Type in your password to finish connecting to the remote Linux machine

5) Open VNC Viewer and type into the VNC Server box: localhost:?? where ?? is the display number assigned to you

• Click the Connect button on the bottom of the window and enjoy!

You can access vnc through a Linux (i.e. Redhat) terminal window with the following command:

vncviewer -via <IP address> :<display number>

With the case of esxfedoralo, it would be the following command:

vncviewer -via 134.129.214.58 :<display number>

• You will need the school's VPN (Virtual Private Network) to get past the firewall
• You will also need PuTTY SSH
• Make sure to read the Wiki pages for both of these before continuing with this page

OS X has a built in VNC viewer, so no extra software is needed to access the VNC server.

To access the VNC server: — David Delene 2020/10/19 23:12

• Open Terminal and execute the following command to set up a port tunnel: ssh -L 59??:localhost:59?? -l <login name> <host name or IP address>. The host name for example is aircraft.atmos.und.edu. This creates an tunnel via ssh.
• Open Finder and in the toolbar, choose Go→Connect to Server
• In the dialog box, enter vnc:/ /<hostname>:59?? where <hostname> is computer hostname or ip address. Use localhost if doing a tunnel via ssh (setup one). For the ?? in 59??, replace with display number. For example 07 or 14 for display 7 and 14.
• Choose “Connect.
• A window will prompt for your password. Enter it and you're all set!

To change the VNC viewer resolution:

• Connect to the VNC server
• Open settings within the linux operating system and choose Displays→Resolution→1920×1080

• VNC : Virtual Network Computing
  • “It is remote control software which allows you to view and fully interact with one computer desktop (the “VNC server”) using a simple program (the “VNC viewer”) on another computer desktop anywhere on the Internet.” (from www.realvnc.com, [http://www.realvnc.com/vnc/])

• VPN : Virtual Private Network
  • Offered through UND, this allows you to get through the firewall

• PuTTY SSH : PuTTY
  • SSH stands for Secure Shell and this program offers a secure channel between two networks (from Wikipedia.com [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Shell])
  • This program, when using it with tunnelling, offers a secure channel by encrypting all information that passes through the channel.

• Server : The computer you are tying to access remotely (most likely one of the computers in the computer lab)
  • List of computers in Clifford 422 (computer lab)

• Client : Your computer, or the computer that is trying to gain access to the server

To allow scripting to access VNC, people may want to use the same display number, Hence, below is list, please add your name and number. Please use vncserver :? where ? is your display number.

• Display Number - Name
• 1 - Default 1 (Reserved - Don't Use if Possible)
• 2 - Default 2 (Reserved - Don't Use if Possible)
• 3 - Default 3 (Reserved - Don't Use if Possible)
• 4 - David Delene*
• 5 - Conrad Slad*
• 6 - Derek Stinchfield
• 7 - Kendra Sand*
• 8 - Christian Nairy*
• 9 - Andy Detwiler
• 10 - Jenna Post* (use to be Michael Willette) DOESN'T WORK!
• 11 - Nicholas Camp
• 12 - James Klinman*
• 14 - Summer Coleman*
• 15 - Andrea Neumann*
• 16 - Davyd Perdomo*
• 17 - Jenna Post*
• 18 - Daile Zhang
• 19 - Joseph O'Brien
• 20 - Shawn Wagner*
• 21 - Nick (Nicholas) Gapp
• 22 - Paramvi Singh
• 23 - (Kevin Norby) (Previously Aanan Schlief)
• 24 - Henry Liberty (Previously Jennifer Moore)
• 25 - Benjamin Guida
• 26 - Peter
• 27 - Cheyenne Harrison*
• 28 - Jacob Halmos*
• 29 - Youngsuk Oh*
• 30 - Bryce Rickbeil*
• 31 - Ashley Vos*
• 32 - Ikran Abdi*
• 33 - Thomas Johansen*
• 34 - Kyle Gillette
• 35 - Andrew Kramer

* Active Users

To see who is using VNC Server session use the command “ps -ef | grep -i Xvnc”. This can also be used to check if your own session is running. To kill your session, use systemctl stop vncserver@:#.service, where # is your display number.

- Error Example: Attempting to run VNC, you may get the error 'Timed out waiting for a response from the computer.' Use above command to check your session. If your session is not running, start it with systemctl start vncserver@:#.service, where # is your display number.