HOWTO: Server Side VNC Client

[chenel]

Thanks for the tip. I discovered that it's actually really easy to do with x11vnc: you just put the Java .class and other associated files (including an "index.vnc" that's got the same content as your "index.html") in /usr/local/share/x11vnc/classes, then run x11vnc with the -http option. So I know it works, and it works nicely.

By the way, while it's a bit easier to use the built-in VNC server (vino), x11vnc uses up a lot less processor time on my machine (~10-20%, vs. ~40-50% or more for vino). It might be worth adding x11vnc to the howto in case people want to use it instead...

[dragonfyre13]

Thanks for the tip. I discovered that it's actually really easy to do with x11vnc: you just put the Java .class and other associated files (including an "index.vnc" that's got the same content as your "index.html") in /usr/local/share/x11vnc/classes, then run x11vnc with the -http option. So I know it works, and it works nicely.

By the way, while it's a bit easier to use the built-in VNC server (vino), x11vnc uses up a lot less processor time on my machine (~10-20%, vs. ~40-50% or more for vino). It might be worth adding x11vnc to the howto in case people want to use it instead...

Good to know, and thanks for the tip about X11vnc. What port do you connect to for the client? I've got apache running, and tomcat, and ssh, and http-tunnel, and webmin, and a whole host of others. Right now I'm worried about whether I have a decent port open...

[chenel]

What port do you connect to for the client?

By default it binds to 5800 + display number (so 5800 for me). In reading another howto (here) I found a good way to set up x11vnc to start when a user logs into GDM, and this particular script stores the port that vnc is using to ~/.vnc/port.txt -- you might check it out. Anyways, you might be able to set the port number, but I couldn't find any indication of that in a quick search. However you said that you get nothing when you try port 5800 so hopefully it should be open.

EDIT: use "netstat" to see what ports are in use.

[dragonfyre13]

By default it binds to 5800 + display number (so 5800 for me). In reading another howto (here) I found a good way to set up x11vnc to start when a user logs into GDM, and this particular script stores the port that vnc is using to ~/.vnc/port.txt -- you might check it out. Anyways, you might be able to set the port number, but I couldn't find any indication of that in a quick search. However you said that you get nothing when you try port 5800 so hopefully it should be open.

EDIT: use "netstat" to see what ports are in use.

Yeah, I tried netstat, and tried the tutorial that you pointed to. I've actually got x11vnc running right now, because I followed that tutorial. Problem is, I didn't know to copy the files over, and so I got nothing when I dialed in to port 5800. Oh, and you can set the VNC port with one of the command line commands. I had it at 443 for a while. I can dig the command up if you want it.

[chenel]

I think you can also leave the files wherever you want them, and use x11vnc -http-dir=[directory you specify], if that's more convenient.

Does it work now?

[sciurus]

I was looking for a Java Based VNC Client, that someone could simply connect to through my existing apache web server

Please note that if you don't have this requirement it is much easier install vncserver and vnc-java. You can connect to the vncserver at http://your-ip:580x, where x is the display number. You can have multiple vnc displays simultaneously if you so desire.

[dragonfyre13]

Please note that if you don't have this requirement it is much easier install vncserver and vnc-java. You can connect to the vncserver at http://your-ip:580x, where x is the display number. You can have multiple vnc displays simultaneously if you so desire.

Yes, but I was looking for a way to embed it in the already existing website. Actually, if you read the recent discussion, this is what we have been commenting on. The problem comes when you only have port 5900 enabled, or something similar.

[dragonfyre13]

I think you can also leave the files wherever you want them, and use x11vnc -http-dir=[directory you specify], if that's more convenient.

Does it work now?

Flawlessly

Thanks. I'll have to file this away in Tomboy.

[chenel]

Sweet. Glad it worked out for you.

[hen3rz]

This tutorial is amazing! thank you very much. I have been struggling to work out how to do this for so long.

You have saved me many painful hours!