Linux VNC Server

How to setup a VNC Server on Linux

On the PC / Desktop you want to access

1. Install the X11 Server

   sudo apt install -y x11vnc
   

2. Then setup the initial password

   x11vnc -usepw
   

   Press Ctrl+C to close the vnc server session.

On the remote PC

1. You can add the command to start the vnc server on the remote PC in your ~/.ssh/config as below. This approach means the vnc-server is only running when you need it.

   Host remote-pc-vnc
       User karubits
       Hostname 192.168.139.128
       LocalForward 5901 localhost:5901
       RemoteCommand x11vnc -localhost -display :1 -usepw -rfbport 5901 -ncache 10
   

   Then ssh the remote PC you want to see the desktop on

   ssh remote-pc-vnc
   

   Then open your vnc viewer and connect to the localhost of your PC.

VNC Viewer - localhost connection