Introduction A Linux/UNIX computer can run VNC Server in Virtual Mode to create and remote a virtual desktop. Unlike other modes, in ...
Introduction
A Linux/UNIX computer can run VNC Server in Virtual Mode to create and remote a virtual desktop. Unlike other modes, in which VNC Viewer replicates what you would see if you were sitting in front of the host computer’s display, a virtual desktop exists in memory only, and is visible to just the connected VNC Viewer user.
Virtual Mode has many uses. As well as providing visual remote access to a headless server, it can enable multiple users to run a centralized application simultaneously yet separately. It’s worth noting that creating virtual desktops is likely to save considerable resources when compared with operating an equivalent number of virtual machines.
VNC Server can be run in Virtual Mode as many times as you have available 'desktops' in your license, to create as many virtual desktops as you need.
Steps (7 total)
This guide assumes you have already installed and licensed VNC Server on the Linux/UNIX host computer and VNC Viewer on the client computer or device. If you have not already done this, begin by clicking here:http://www.realvnc.com/download/.
Open Terminal on your host computer and type:
vncserver-virtual
vncserver-virtual
VNC Server in Virtual Mode will start, and its details, including its IP address and the display (port number) it is listening on, will appear inside of parentheses. Note this address, making sure to include the display that appears after a colon at the end of the IP address.
If you have a Free license, you will also be asked to specify a VNC password. Create one of your choice when prompted.
If your client device is connected to the same network as the host computer, open VNC Viewer and enter the IP address and display you noted above. There is no limit to how many devices you can connect to your virtual desktop simultaneously.
If you have a Free license, you will be prompted for your VNC password before any connection can be made. If you have a Personal or Enterprise license, enter the username and password you usually use to login to the computer. After entering your credentials, VNC Viewer should display a virtual desktop.
When connecting over the Internet, there are a number of extra steps you need to follow. An upcoming Spiceworks how-to will explain how to make a successful connection to VNC Server in this way.
Unfortunately, VNC Server in Virtual Mode will not work with the default desktop environment used by Ubuntu 13.04+ and Fedora 19 (Unity and Gnome Shell). This is because they require capabilities that are not currently available in VNC Server’s bundled X Server (Xvnc).
This can be fixed by using Terminal to download and install an alternative desktop environment. Run one of the following commands:
Debian-compatible: sudo apt-get install lxde
Red Hat-comptaible: sudo yum install @lxde-desktop
This will install LXDE, a lightweight desktop environment that’s fully supported by VNC Server.
Note that LXDE is not the only desktop environment that VNC Server in Virtual Mode is able to display. To see a comprehensive list, click below.
You will then need to configure VNC Server to always use LXDE in Virtual Mode for all users. Run the following in Terminal:
echo -e '#!/bin/sh\nDESKTOP_SESSION=LXDE\nexport DESKTOP_SESSION\nstartlxde\nvncserver-virtual -kill $DISPLAY' | sudo tee /etc/vnc/xstartup.custom ; sudo chmod +x /etc/vnc/xstartup.custom
Once this process is complete, close any running instances of VNC Server:
vncserver –kill :<display>
and then repeat steps 2 and 3.
VNC Viewer should now display a virtual LXDE desktop.
If you are a system administrator with an Enterprise license, you can configure VNC Server to automatically start in Virtual Mode and create a separate virtual desktop for each different user that connects (identified by their login credentials). This is done with the Virtual Mode daemon (session manager).
If you are running a Red Hat-compatible version of Linux that uses initd, open Terminal and run:
service vncserver-virtuald start
as an administrator (alternatively, instructions for different versions of Linux/UNIX can be found at the link below). Users will now be able to connect to their own private virtual desktop on demand by starting VNC Viewer and entering the following:
<IP Address>:99
Instructions for other distributions of Linux:http://www.realvnc.com/products/vnc/documentation/5.2/reference/vncserver-virtuald.html
To ensure you don’t have to manually start the daemon each time your computer reboots, open Terminal and run the following command (again assuming a Red Hat-compatible version of Linux using initd):
chkconfig --add vncserver-virtuald
The daemon will now run in the background whenever the computer is turned on.
Note that, by default, a virtual desktop is destroyed as soon as a user disconnects. An upcoming update to VNC Server will enable users to persist virtual desktops; please feel free to contact us directly for more information about this feature.
Instructions for other distributions of Linux are available here:http://www.realvnc.com/products/vnc/documentation/5.2/reference/vncserver-virtuald.html
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