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login:vnc:start [2020/01/08 10:52] – created jaslogin:vnc:start [2020/01/08 11:37] (current) – jas
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 ====== VNC Password Setup ===== ====== VNC Password Setup =====
  
-The first time you use VNC, you need to setup a password which you will need to enter on your PC when you go to access your EECS VNC session.  Use the //vncpasswd// command to set a password:+The first time you use VNC, you need to setup a password.  You will need to enter this password on your PC when you want to access your EECS VNC session remotely.   
 + 
 +Use the //vncpasswd// command to set a VNC password:
  
 <code> <code>
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 </code> </code>
  
-//vncpasswd// will ask for a password, then ask you to re-type it to verify it.  It also gives you the option of setting a "view only" password which you don't need.  The encrypted password will be written to the file ~/.vnc/passwd in your EECS account.  You only need to do this the first time you're using VNC, or when you want to change your VNC password.+As you can see, //vncpasswd// will ask for a password, then ask you to re-type it to verify it.  It also gives you the option of setting a "view only" password which you don't need.  The encrypted password will be written to the file ~/.vnc/passwd in your home directory.   
 + 
 +You can re-run the //vncpasswd// command any time you wish to change your VNC password.
  
 **Since VNC is an older protocol, it limits maximum password length to 8 characters.  Please ensure that you use a secure password, or someone may be able to gain unauthorized access to your account contents.** **Since VNC is an older protocol, it limits maximum password length to 8 characters.  Please ensure that you use a secure password, or someone may be able to gain unauthorized access to your account contents.**
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 ====== Check If a VNC Server Is Already Running ====== ====== Check If a VNC Server Is Already Running ======
  
-Check to make sure that you aren't running an existing VNC server using the //vncserver// command with the list option.  Here we can see that an existing VNC server is not running:+You will be connecting from your own computer to an application on our server called a "VNC Server".  There will be one VNC Server application running on our server per user that is connecting.  
 + 
 +First, check to make sure that you aren't running an existing VNC server using the //vncserver// command with the list option.  If this is the first time you've used VNC, you can skip this step!   
 + 
 +Here we can see that an existing VNC server is not running:
  
 <code> <code>
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 </code> </code>
  
-If you want to start a VNC server, continue to the next step.   +If you want to start a VNC server for your user ID on our server, continue to the next step.   
-If you've already started a VNC server, skip to the section "Connecting to Your VNC Server.+If you've already started a VNC server for your user ID on our server, skip to the section 
 +[[https://wiki.eecs.yorku.ca/dept/tdb/login:vnc:start#connecting_to_your_vnc_server]].
  
 ====== Starting a VNC Server ====== ====== Starting a VNC Server ======
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 Here we can see that the VNC server has started on "red:2".  The "red" part is because  the server is running on "red.eecs.yorku.ca".  The ":2" part is the VNC server port.  You will need both the hostname and port number when connecting to the VNC server from your computer in the next step. Here we can see that the VNC server has started on "red:2".  The "red" part is because  the server is running on "red.eecs.yorku.ca".  The ":2" part is the VNC server port.  You will need both the hostname and port number when connecting to the VNC server from your computer in the next step.
 +
 +IMPORTANT NOTE: By default, the VNC sessions start with screen resolution of 1024x768.  If you want a larger screen resolution (eg. 1920x1080), then you need to pass this to the vncserver command like this: //vncserver// -geometry 1920x1080.  Note that the larger the screen resolution, the slower the session will be because more data needs to be sent back and forth over your network connection.
  
 ====== Connecting to Your VNC Server ====== ====== Connecting to Your VNC Server ======
  
-From your local computer, you can now access the VNC server that you started.  See the section "VNC Clients" for recommendations on VNC clients for a variety of platforms.+Now that you've started a VNC server process on the time sharing server, it's time to connect to it from your local computer. See the section "VNC Clients" for recommendations on VNC clients for a variety of platforms.
  
-As an example, if you are using Mobaxterm under Windows, follow this procedure to connect to your VNC session:+For the purposes of this example, I will assume Mobaxterm running on a Windows system.  Follow the following procedure to connect to your VNC session:
  
   * Select "Sessions"   * Select "Sessions"
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   * Select "VNC"   * Select "VNC"
   * Under "Remote hostname or IP address" enter "red.eecs.yorku.ca" if you an undergrad, or "indigo.eecs.yorku.ca" if you are anyone else.   * Under "Remote hostname or IP address" enter "red.eecs.yorku.ca" if you an undergrad, or "indigo.eecs.yorku.ca" if you are anyone else.
-  * Beside "Remote hostname or IP address", you will see "Port".  If the port you were given above (red:2) is 2, then enter "5902".  If the port you're given was "10, then select "5910".+  * Beside "Remote hostname or IP address", you will see "Port".  If the port you were given above (red:2) is 2, then enter "5902".  If the port you're given was "10, then select "5910".  The port will always be 59XX where XX is a 2 digit port.
   * Click "OK".   * Click "OK".
-  * You should see a dialog box that says: "Please enter your password for vncuser on red.eecs.yorku.ca".  Enter the password that you entered from "vncpasswd" above.  Click "OK".+  * You should see a dialog box that says: "Please enter your password for vncuser on red.eecs.yorku.ca".  Enter the password that you entered from //vncpasswd// above.  Click "OK".
   * You should now be connected to your VNC session.   * You should now be connected to your VNC session.
  
 ====== Stopping VNC Server ====== ====== Stopping VNC Server ======
  
-If you don't take steps to stop a running VNC server, it will continue to run when you logout.  This poses two major problems:+If you don't take steps to stop a running VNC server, it will continue to run when you logout.  This might seem useful to you because all your applications will continue to run.  This does, however, pose two major problems:
  
-1) There are limited system resources available.  If everyone were to run a VNC server and keep it running, our server will run out of memory, and CPU power and will operate slowly for everyone.+1) The time sharing servers have limited resources available. If everyone were to run a VNC server and keep it running with all the software they are running all the time, our server will run out of memory, and CPU power.  It will operate slowly for everyone, and provide a poor user experience.
 2) If you leave a VNC session running, you provide a mechanism for outside users to access your account. 2) If you leave a VNC session running, you provide a mechanism for outside users to access your account.
  
-Stopping the VNC server is actually very easy.  There are two ways to stop the VNC server:+**PLEASE** make sure that you explicitly stop any running VNC server when your session is done.  Stopping the VNC server is actually very easy.  There are two ways to do it:
  
-  * You can stop the VNC server by simply logging out!  Either double click the "Logout" option on the desktop, and choose "Log Out", or click the small arrow in the upper right hand corner of the screen, then select your name, then "Log Out".+  * You can stop the VNC server by simply logging out!  Either double click the "Logout" icon on the desktop, and choose "Log Out", or click the small arrow in the upper right hand corner of the screen, select your name, then "Log Out".
   * You can use the //vncserver// command with the list option to see the port number of your VNC instance, then use //vncserver// -kill <port number> (eg. vncserver -kill :2).  Your VNC server will be stopped.   * You can use the //vncserver// command with the list option to see the port number of your VNC instance, then use //vncserver// -kill <port number> (eg. vncserver -kill :2).  Your VNC server will be stopped.
  
-** Users who consistently abuse the system by leaving VNC sessions open when they log out will have their account locked. **+** Users who consistently abuse the system by leaving VNC sessions open that they are not actively using may have their account locked without notice. **
  
 ====== VNC Clients ====== ====== VNC Clients ======
  
-VNC clients are available for a variety of platforms.  For Windows, we recommend [[https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/|MobaXterm]].  Most Linux systems have RealVNC's "vncviewer" installed, or it can be installed easily.  MacOS X has built-in support for VNC.  Go to the Finder, hit CMD-K, then in the "Server Address" field enter "vnc://HOST:port".+VNC clients are available for a variety of platforms.  
 + 
 +  * Windows: For Windows, we recommend [[https://mobaxterm.mobatek.net/|MobaXterm]].  RealVNC's VNC Viewer is another option. 
 +  * MacOS X: MacOS X has built-in support for VNC.  Go to the Finder, hit CMD-K, then in the "Server Address" field enter "vnc:%%//%%HOST:port".  For example: vnc:%%//%%red.eecs.yorku.ca:5902 
 +  * Linux: Most Linux systems have RealVNC's "vncviewer" installed, or it can be easily installed with the OS package management solution. 
  
  
login/vnc/start.1578498720.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/01/08 10:52 by jas