RPi VNC Server - Revision history

Andrum99 at 22:38, 26 December 2012

2012-12-26T22:38:17Z

Andrum99 at 22:37, 26 December 2012

2012-12-26T22:37:49Z

Andrum99 at 22:36, 26 December 2012

2012-12-26T22:36:47Z

Andrum99 at 22:36, 26 December 2012

2012-12-26T22:36:04Z

Andrum99: /* Instructions */

2012-12-20T23:08:35Z

‎Instructions

Andrum99: /* Instructions */ Changed to display zero since this allows VNC clients to connect without specifying the display number (default to zero)

2012-12-10T16:38:23Z

‎Instructions: Changed to display zero since this allows VNC clients to connect without specifying the display number (default to zero)

Penguintutor: /* Getting VNC Server to Work on a Specific User */ - added eval to put in home directory

2012-10-26T09:21:48Z

‎Getting VNC Server to Work on a Specific User: - added eval to put in home directory

The Captain at 20:20, 10 September 2012

2012-09-10T20:20:06Z

The Captain: /* Overview of this project */

2012-09-10T19:55:56Z

‎Overview of this project

The Captain: /* How does it work? */

2012-09-10T19:54:12Z

‎How does it work?

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Category:RaspberryPi]]
 Back to [[RPi Guides]].
 ==What does it do?==

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 '''Raspberry Pi VNC Server'''
-=What does it do?=
+==What does it do?==
 Sometimes it is not convenient to work directly on the Raspberry Pi. Maybe you would like to work on it but from another computer by remote control. You can do this and the remote computer can even be anywhere in the world over the internet. This tutorial shows how you can view and control the raspberry pi desktop from your computer's desktop by using special software.
-=What do you need?=
+==What do you need?==
 *A Raspberry Pi
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 *Special software on both the Raspberry Pi and the remote, controlling computer
-=What skill level is required?=
+==What skill level is required?==
 This project does not require any coding or compilation. Very basic Linux and networking knowledge would be useful, but not essential.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 *Connect computers using ethernet cables
-=How does it work?=
+==How does it work?==
 The commands described below start a "virtual" graphical session. Instead of using a hardware framebuffer, this uses RAM for a framebuffer. It also opens a network channel or port that allows programs on other computers (if they provide the password) to show the framebuffer and provide mouse and keyboard events.
@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 Because the framebuffer isn't the real framebuffer you cannot take advantage of the GPU to accelerate operations on the screen.
-=Overview of this project=
+==Overview of this project==
 You need to
 *Install VNC (Virtual Network Computing) server software on the Raspberry Pi
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 *Connect over a network from your computer to the Raspberry Pi
-=Instructions=
+==Instructions==
 Log in to your Pi and install the Tight VNC Package
   $ sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
@@ Line 134: / Line 134: @@
 <references />
-=Getting VNC Server to Work on a Specific User=
+==Getting VNC Server to Work on a Specific User==
 Instead of using the script in the Raspberry Pi wiki, use this one provided by "PenguinTutor":
   #!/bin/sh
@@ Line 173: / Line 173: @@
 Now it should work.
-=Does Your Openbox Configuration Settings Not Start on VNC?=
+==Does Your Openbox Configuration Settings Not Start on VNC?==
 You'll often find yourself in a position where VNC will start, but you'll get things such as multiple virtual desktops appearing, and you try to save it in the "Openbox Configuration Manager," and they go away for a second, but then you find you'll restart the Pi and then they appear again.  Here's how to fix it:
@@ Line 203: / Line 203: @@
 It should now work!
-=Limitations and Alternatives=
+==Limitations and Alternatives==
 In this example TightVNC has been used. This is a popular and relatively friendly program that uses the VNC protocols and is included in most GNU/Linux distributions. However it does have it's limitations. The biggest of these is that it creates new desktops for each connection. It may be that what you want to do though is view and control the same desktop that shows on the monitor/TV plugged into the Raspberry Pi. To do this a better tool to use is x11vnc. This is more powerful but less easy to use. However if you already have a desktop running it will latch on to it and share it as a default. This too is fairly popular and included in many GNU/Linux distribution repositories such as Raspbian.
-=Security Considerations=
+==Security Considerations==
 Be aware that basic VNC is not secure. It is not encrypted unless you are advanced in setting it up. If you use it over the internet it can result in criminals "bouncing" you off your connection and taking over. There are even computer robot tools that try to do this. You must set a password but even then it is sometimes possible to take over someone's connection after they have entered it.
 A good tip is to set the server to shift from the default port 5900 to something else chosen randomly as long as it is spare.

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 =What do you need?=
-*A Raspberry Pi, model B.
+*A Raspberry Pi
-*A boot SD card for the Raspberry Pi.
+*A boot SD card for the Raspberry Pi
-*A network connection (Ethernet or WiFi).
+*A network connection (Ethernet or WiFi)
 *Special software on both the Raspberry Pi and the remote, controlling computer

@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 =What does it do?=
-Sometimes it is not convenient to work directly on the raspberry pi. Maybe you would like to work on it but from another computer by remote control. You can do this and the remote computer can even be anywhere in the world over the internet. This tutorial shows how you can view and control the raspberry pi desktop from your computer's desktop by using special software.
+Sometimes it is not convenient to work directly on the Raspberry Pi. Maybe you would like to work on it but from another computer by remote control. You can do this and the remote computer can even be anywhere in the world over the internet. This tutorial shows how you can view and control the raspberry pi desktop from your computer's desktop by using special software.
 =What do you need?=
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 Next Run TightVNC Server which will prompt you to enter a Password and an optional View Only Password
   $ tightvncserver
-Once that is done you can start a VNC server from the shell prompt. This example starts a session on VNC display zero (:0) with full HD resolution at 96 Dots Per Inch (DPI):
+Once that is done you can start a VNC server from the shell prompt. This example starts a session on VNC display zero (:0) with full HD resolution:
   $ vncserver :0 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24
 (If fonts appear the wrong size, add '-dpi 96' to the end.)

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 Next Run TightVNC Server which will prompt you to enter a Password and an optional View Only Password
   $ tightvncserver
-Once that is done you can start a VNC server from the shell prompt. This example starts a session on VNC display zero (:0) with full HD resolution:
+Once that is done you can start a VNC server from the shell prompt. This example starts a session on VNC display zero (:0) with full HD resolution at 96 Dots Per Inch (DPI):
   $ vncserver :0 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24
 Or you could create a script to save typing in the whole thing.
   $ nano svnc.sh (call the file whatever you like)
 Add the lines:
   #!/bin/sh
-  vncserver :0 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24
+  vncserver :0 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24 -dpi 96
 Ctrl-x y <return> (To Exit Nano and Save)

@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 <references />
 =Getting VNC Server to Work on a Specific User=
-Instead of using the script in the Raspberry Pi wiki, use this one provided by "Penguin Tutors":
+Instead of using the script in the Raspberry Pi wiki, use this one provided by "PenguinTutor":
   #!/bin/sh
   # /etc/init.d/tightvncserver
@@ Line 140: / Line 140: @@
   # Set the VNCUSER variable to the name of the user to start tightvncserver under
   VNCUSER='pi'
   case "$1" in
    start)
@@ Line 169: / Line 170: @@
 Now it should work.
 =Does Your Openbox Configuration Settings Not Start on VNC?=
 You'll often find yourself in a position where VNC will start, but you'll get things such as multiple virtual desktops appearing, and you try to save it in the "Openbox Configuration Manager," and they go away for a second, but then you find you'll restart the Pi and then they appear again.  Here's how to fix it:

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:20, 10 September 2012
Line 198:		Line 198:

	It should now work!		It should now work!
		+
		+	=Limitations and Alternatives=
		+
		+	In this example TightVNC has been used. This is a popular and relatively friendly program that uses the VNC protocols and is included in most GNU/Linux distributions. However it does have it's limitations. The biggest of these is that it creates new desktops for each connection. It may be that what you want to do though is view and control the same desktop that shows on the monitor/TV plugged into the Raspberry Pi. To do this a better tool to use is x11vnc. This is more powerful but less easy to use. However if you already have a desktop running it will latch on to it and share it as a default. This too is fairly popular and included in many GNU/Linux distribution repositories such as Raspbian.
		+
		+	=Security Considerations=
		+	Be aware that basic VNC is not secure. It is not encrypted unless you are advanced in setting it up. If you use it over the internet it can result in criminals "bouncing" you off your connection and taking over. There are even computer robot tools that try to do this. You must set a password but even then it is sometimes possible to take over someone's connection after they have entered it.
		+	A good tip is to set the server to shift from the default port 5900 to something else chosen randomly as long as it is spare.

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 =Overview of this project=
 You need to
-*Install a VNC server on the Raspberry Pi
+*Install VNC (Virtual Network Computing) server software on the Raspberry Pi
-*Start the VNC server
+*Start the VNC server software
 *Install a VNC client on another computer
 =Instructions=

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 =How does it work?=
-The commands described below start "virtual" graphical session. Instead of using a hardware framebuffer, this uses RAM for a framebuffer. It also opens a port that allows programs on other computers (if they provide the password) to show the framebuffer and provide mouse and keyboard events.
+The commands described below start a "virtual" graphical session. Instead of using a hardware framebuffer, this uses RAM for a framebuffer. It also opens a network channel or port that allows programs on other computers (if they provide the password) to show the framebuffer and provide mouse and keyboard events.
-This way you can run a session on the raspberry pi, but display elsewhere.
+This way you can run a desktop session on the raspberry pi, but display and control it elsewhere.
 Because the framebuffer isn't the real framebuffer you cannot take advantage of the GPU to accelerate operations on the screen.