How to install TigerVNC Server to Access Remote Desktops

Step 1:

Installation of GNOME Desktop

You need to install a GUI with GNOME Desktop, if you have installed a minimal version of Operating System. The GNOME desktop gives a lightweight desktop environment, which works efficiently on remote VNC desktops.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum groupinstall " X Window System"  " Desktop" 

Step 2:

Installation of TigerVNC Server

TigerVNC is a remote desktop control software, which enables you to efficiently connect to remote desktops, to install this, use the following command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# yum install tigervnc-server -y
Loaded plugins: aliases, changelog, fastestmirror, kabi, presto, refresh-packagekit,
              : security, tmprepo, verify, versionlock
Loading support for CentOS kernel ABI
Setting up Install Process
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * base: centos.webwerks.com
 * extras: centos.webwerks.com
 * updates: mirrors.viethosting.vn
---> Package tigervnc-server-1.1.0-16.el6.centos.x86_64 will be installed
.
.
.
Installed:
Tigervnc-server-1.1.0-16.el6.centos.x86_64 installed 
Complete!

Step 3:
Creating a Normal VNC User

Now we will be creating a normal user, which will be used to connect to remote desktop.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# useradd linuxhelp
[root@linuxhelp ~]# passwd linuxhelp
Changing password for user linuxhelp 
New password: 
Retype new password: 
passwd: all authentication tokens updated successfully.

Step 4:

Setting a VNC Password for User

Now we will be creating a new password for newly created user. For this you have to login to the user and run “ vncpasswd” in order to set the VNC password for the user.
The new password can be used for accessing VNC remote desktop and the password, which we created in step 3 is used for accessing SSH.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# su - linuxhelp
[linuxhelp@linuxhelp ~]$ vncpasswd
Password:
Verify:

The above command will prompt you to provide password twice and also creates .vnc directory under user’ s home directory with passwd file within it. You can also check the password file created using following command.

[linuxhelp@linuxhelp ~]$ ls -l /home/linuxhelp/.vnc
-rw-------. 1 linuxhelp linuxhelp     8 Apr 16 17:39 passwd

Now you need to exit from user login and then return to root user login.

[linuxhelp@linuxhelp ~]$ exit
exit

Step 5:

Creating VNC Xstartup Script

You have to create the xstartup script as root user, by starting the VNC server.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# /etc/init.d/vncserver start
Starting VNC server: 1:linuxhelp 
New ' linuxhelp.com:1 (linuxhelp)'  desktop is linuxhelp.com:1

Starting applications specified in /home/linuxhelp/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/linuxhelp/.vnc/linuxhelp.com:1.log
[ OK ]

Next, you have to verify that xstartup script is created under user’ s home directory using ‘ ls -l’ command.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# ls -l /home/linuxhelp/.vnc
-rw-------. 1 linuxhelp linuxhelp     8 Apr 16 17:39 passwd
-rwxr-xr-x. 1 linuxhelp linuxhelp   654 Apr 16 18:23 xstartup

After it is created, you can set a desktop resolution in xstartup file. To do this, it is essential to stop running the VNC service.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# /etc/init.d/vncserver stop
Shutting down VNC server: 1:linuxhelp              [  OK  ]

Step 6:

Set up Xstarup Resolution

First open file /etc/sysconfig/vncservers file in your editor. Now let us create a new VNC Session for linuxhelp with following command where ‘ -geometry‘ is used to define the desktop resolution.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# vim /etc/sysconfig/vncservers

And append the below lines to it at the bottom of the file and then save and close it.
VNCSERVERS=” 1:linuxhelp”
VNCSERVERARGS[1]=” -geometry 1280× 1024&Prime

When you deal with multiple users, create a vncpasswd for all the user’ s, add the user’ s to the VNCSERVERS line and append a VNCSERVERARGS[x] entry, where ‘ x‘ is the ID number.

[root@linuxhelp ~]# /etc/init.d/vncserver start
Starting VNC server: 1:linuxhelp 
New ' linuxhelp.com:1 (linuxhelp)'  desktop is linuxhelp.com:1

Starting applications specified in /home/linuxhelp/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/linuxhelp/.vnc/linuxhelp.com:1.log

  [  OK  ]

[root@linuxhelp ~]# iptables -A INPUT -m state --state NEW -m tcp -p tcp --dport 5901 -j ACCEPT

[root@linuxhelp ~]# service iptables save
iptables: Saving firewall rules to /etc/sysconfig/iptables:[  OK  ]
[root@linuxhelp ~]# service iptables restart 
iptables: Setting chains to policy ACCEPT: filter mangle na[  OK  ]
iptables: Flushing firewall rules:                         [  OK  ]
iptables: Unloading modules:                               [  OK  ]
iptables: Applying firewall rules:                         [  OK  ]