Setup VNC Server on Ubuntu/Linux Mint / Xbuntu / Zorin OS/ Chromium OS

   Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a graphical desktop sharing system that uses the Remote Frame Buffer protocol (RFB)to remotely control another computer. It transmits the keyboard and mouse events from one computer to another, relaying the graphical screen updates back in the other direction, over a network.

   VNC is platform-independent – there are clients and servers for many GUI-based operating systems and for Java. Multiple clients may connect to a VNC server at the same time. Popular uses for this technology include remote technical support and accessing files on one's work computer from one's home computer, or vice versa.

   X11VNC is the popular VNC server for creating remote desktop connection and access remote desktop. It works will almost all the desktop environment available for Ubuntu and Debian based systems. Using remote desktop connection we can connect any remote system and access graphical user interface and work. We can use any available vnc viewer like the tight vnc viewer, real vnc viewer or ultra vnc viewer.

   X11VNC can be a better remote support software for you. This tutorial will help you to setup x11vnc server on your Ubuntu, LinuxMint & Debian system and connect using vnc viewer from the client system.

Step 1 – Install X11VNC

X11vnc packages are available under default repositories, So just update default repositories and install.

nikul@bapu:~$ sudo apt-get update

nikul@bapu:~$ sudo apt-get install x11vnc

Step 2 – Create Password

Now create a password to connect using vnc viewer from client system.

nikul@bapu:~$ x11vnc -storepasswd

Enter VNC password: *********

Verify password: ********* 

Write password to /home/nikul/.vnc/passwd?  [y]/n y

Password written to: /home/nikul/.vnc/passwd

Step 3 – Start X11VNC Server

After successful installation of x11vnc server on your system. Let’s start it using following command. Change the parameters as per your setup.

$ sudo x11vnc -auth guess -forever -loop -noxdamage -repeat -rfbauth /home/nikul/.vnc/passwd -rfbport 5900 -shared

The VNC server will start on port 5900. In case port 5900 is busy, it will switch to next available port.

Step 4 – Connect from VNC Client

To connect to the server using VNC, you need a VNC client on your system. For this tutorial, I am using RealVNC viewer on our system. You can use any other client of your choice.

Step 5 – Setup AutoStart on Boot

Finally setup the auto start of x11vnc server on system boot. Create a x11vnc.conf file under /etc/init/ directory using following content.

nikul@bapu:~$ sudo vi /etc/init/x11vnc.conf

# description "Start x11vnc on system boot"

description "x11vnc"

start on runlevel [2345]

stop on runlevel [^2345]

console log

respawn

respawn limit 20 5

exec /usr/bin/x11vnc -auth guess -forever -loop -noxdamage -repeat -rfbauth /home/nikul/.vnc/passwd -rfbport 5900 -shared

 --Thanks

You can comment for any error on installing.