Remote Network Administration with VNC Server

Here are some good remote admin tools. The main point for setting up this only few resources is required, especially when your server has little RAM on it. I still remember when I used this kind of setting, it is right back to the year of 2000.

For example, I have rented a VPS at Linode and only have 360MB on it. In order to have more xterms for me to work on the server from remote site. I need to install the follow softwares:

yum install vnc-server
yum install xorg-x11-twm
yum install xterm

After the installation, you need to call up the vncserver and provide the password twice for latter on accessing your server.

vnc initial password

Once the password is given, a startup script xstartup will be written to your .vnc directory, (i.e, ~/.vnc), content of the scripts is as follows:

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

This will be good enough for doing admin work at remote area. At the remote computer, you need to have the vnc client or browser for accessing your vncserver. Assuming your default vncserver running at port 5801 for HTTP access and port 5901 for vnc client software access, below are the screen layout for the above mentioned access.

Access Via the Internet Explorer:

Access Via the VNC viewer software:

VNC Access Via VNC VIewer

VNC Authentication

Here are some screen layouts for the VNC server display.

VNC in work

If you need more Xterm windows, you can press the left click of the mouse to invoke the Twm windows manager and point to the Xterm. It will load up another Xterm for you.

Some useful VNC commands are described as belows:

vncserver –help /* Display the help info and options for the vncserver */
vncserver -geometry 800×600 :1 /* Set the display geometry at 800 x 600 for your vncserver */
vncserver -kill :1 /* Kill the vncserver */

If you have some more RAM to play around, you can replace the TWM with another light-weight window manager icwwm.

yum install icewm /* Install the icewm window manager */

Once the icewm is installed, just change the xstartup script to call up the icewm instead of twm.

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80×24+10+10 -ls -title “$VNCDESKTOP Desktop” &
#twm & /* Comment this and not to call the twm */
/usr/bin/icewm & /* Call the icewm window manager */

Here is the vnc display with icewm used instead of twm.

VNC with icewm used as window manager

Yes, those above mentioned softwares I used a lot for doing my remote administration work. BTW, the above authentication and communication do not use a secure channel. I will post a secure set up at latter post.

So happy networking with these wonderful tools !