VNC vs. X export

[Brian Kelsay]

----- Original Message -----
From: <ir0nkid@
To: <<kclug@
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 10:01 PM
Subject: Re: VNC vs. X export

> >
> > X can display remotely on a program-by-program basis.  VNC requires that
> > you export the entire display, desktop and all.  Both can be tunnelled
> > via SSH.
> >
>
> I have a similar question regarding the original post.  I also would like
> to be able to remotely control my X.  I know how to use X applications
> remotely by exporting the DISPLAY, or with ssh:
>
> # ssh -X user at xapps
>
> But that will only allow you to start a new app (say x-chat), and not the
> one that is sitting on my machine at home (unless i am missing something)
>
> a friend of mine was trying to tell me to run >gdm &   or >xdm  and this
> should give me the destop manager login.  But what i would like to know is
> if i can somehow use my desktop that is currently logged in.  I played
> around for a bit trying to export the DISPLAY different ways (but i'm
> still kinda new to it).
>
> I also tried out the vnc server that comes with tightvnc, and have gotten
> it to *kinda* give me a gnome destop (fonts are there) by modifying
>
> ~/.vnc/xstartup
>
> by making the last line
>
> gnome-wm &
>
> But all this appears to do is just start it's own X server (apposed to
> allowing me to use my account locally logged in.  Is there a way to do
> this, and i have goofed somewhere?  Any input is appreciated.
>
> thnx,
>
> jacob
>
You have to run the VNC server daemon on the box that you want to remotely
view and control.  On the box where you do the controlling you run VNCviewer
or connect via the browser.  The server daemon listens on whatever port you
set it to, but defaults to port 5900 (5900+display number, 5900, 5901, 5902,
5903 for your standard linux with 4 virtual desktops, generally just 5900 on
Windows).  So if you use the browser to connect you go to
http://192.168.0.2:5900 or http://linuxbox:5900 if the hostname resolves w/
DNS.
Brian