HOWTO: Setting up a VNC to GDM connection

[Devi0s]

I actually ended up using x11vnc to do it. Here's how:

First of all, disable Desktop Sharing with Vino under System -> Preferences -> Remote Desktop.

Use synaptic to install x11vnc.

Once x11vnc is installed, you will need to create a password file that x11vnc will use. Do this:

sudo x11vnc -storepassword yourpasswordhere /etc/x11vnc.pass

Now, we need to configure GDM to run x11vnc when it loads:

sudo nano -w /etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default

Add this line to the file:

/usr/bin/x11vnc -rfbauth /etc/x11vnc.pass -o /tmp/x11vnc.log -forever -bg -rfbport 5900

Now, we need to make a change to another file:

sudo nano -w /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf

In the [Debug] section, find the line:

#KillInitClients=true

And change it to

KillInitClients=false

Restart gdm (you can just reboot), and you are good to go.

[intangible]

That looks like the newest x11vnc from Breezy, the one from Hoary doesn't have the same options.

[Skip Da Shu]

Originally Posted by Devi0s First of all, disable Desktop Sharing with Vino under System -> Preferences -> Remote Desktop.

I don't have this on Xubuntu Gutsy. Not sure what the substitute is.

Use synaptic to install x11vnc.

Did sudo apt-get and got it installed a couple weeks ago.

Once x11vnc is installed, you will need to create a password file that x11vnc will use. Do this: sudo x11vnc -storepassword yourpasswordhere /etc/x11vnc.pass

I had also already done this in an earlier attempt but I actually didn't specify the file so it's up under /home/skip but x11vnc can find it.

The following works when executed from a terminal command line and I can use RealVNC viewer to get to my already logged on Xubuntu desktop on 5908 from a winXP machine.

sudo x11vnc -forever -usepw -rfbport 5908 -allow 192.168.xxx. -sb 30 -o /var/log/vnclog

Now, we need to configure GDM to run x11vnc when it loads: sudo nano -w /etc/X11/gdm/Init/Default

This is where the trouble starts!
In Xubuntu Gutsy this path doesn't exist. After way too many days I did find /etc/gdm/Init/Default. This is what the top of it looks like:

#!/bin/sh
# Stolen from the debian kdm setup, aren't I sneaky
# Plus a lot of fun stuff added
#  -George

PATH=/usr/bin:$PATH
OLD_IFS=$IFS

gdmwhich () {
  COMMAND="$1"
  OUTPUT=
  IFS=:
  for dir in $PATH
  do
    if test -x "$dir/$COMMAND" ; then
      if test "x$OUTPUT" = "x" ; then
        OUTPUT="$dir/$COMMAND"
      fi
    fi
  done
  IFS=$OLD_IFS 
  echo "$OUTPUT"
}

sysresources=/etc/X11/Xresources

# merge in defaults
if [ -f "$sysresources" ]; then
    xrdb -merge "$sysresources"

And it goes on for another 50 or so lines of nested if statements. So...

1. Is this the right file?
2. Does the x11vnc line get inserted right before the 'exit 0' command? (I hope)

Add this line to the file: ...

I'll add my x11vnc line (above) if I'm in the right file and ya'll agree it's OK as is except for replacing "sudo" with the path to x11vnc.

Now, we need to make a change to another file: sudo nano -w /etc/X11/gdm/gdm.conf In the [Debug] section, find the line: #KillInitClients=true And change it to KillInitClients=false

What I have is a /etc/gdm/dgm.conf. I have uncommented it and set it to false.

Restart gdm (you can just reboot), and you are good to go.

Pending above.

Ya'll have NO idea how much getting this to work means to me. This is my LAST major obstacle to replacing winXP on 8 other headless machines with Xubuntu. Thanx so much for any help, Skip

PS: In case you haven't figured it out yet... I'm a complete noob to Linux. So anything that's not DOS look alike or can't be done with sudo gedit you'll probably have to give me the command.