Can't install vncserver for headless

[ajaxmike]

I have recently done a clean re-install of F12 and Amahi. I am trying to setup the server as headless with remote access via VNC. I followed the instructions here: http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/VNC

I logged in as root on a terminal from my desktop (su -) and entered yum -y install vnc-server
System replied that there was nothing to do as vncserver was installed and up to date.

As per the wiki, I typed vncserver at the root prompt and was told that there was no such command.

Detailed instructions were no help as the file /etc/sysconfig/vncservers does not exist.

[bigfoot65]

Not sure of the issue, but recommend you try the Amahi app WebVNC. It may work better for you.

See http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/WebVNC for more info.

[ajaxmike]

Well yes, but webvnc requires an x-windows desktop to be running in the background. I will be running a headless server and want to dispense with the automatic loading of a desktop. In the previous Amahi installation I followed the instructions here: http://wiki.amahi.org/index.php/VNC and it worked just fine. Something has changed in the Amahi installation and now it no longer works.

[bigfoot65]

I will have to research to see if I can find out what the issue may be. I am reluctant to blame this one on Amahi. Very little has changed with it compared to Fedora.

Fedora makes a lot of changes to how things work. One such problem has been the keyring associated with VNC. As I recall, you had to have x-windows running and be logged in for it to work. This is a Fedora requirement.

Have you looked at this article http://www.g-loaded.eu/2005/11/10/confi ... in-fedora/? It might help. I will try to take a look at it tonight and see if I can get it working headless on my test HDA.

[ajaxmike]

Thanks for your help bigfoot. Maybe we can figure this out together.

Yes, I read that article, which the Amahi wiki links to. The problem is that the article gives instructions to edit /etc/sysconfig/vncservers (as does the wiki), but the Amahi webvnc install did not create the file (in my system). I uninstalled and reinstalled webvnc and still no /vncservers file. Hence I came to the conclusion that there is either something wrong with the webvnc install or the wiki instructions.

I uninstalled webvnc, then I searched for vnc packages in yum via webmin and found tigervnc-server. Installed tigervnc-server and bingo!, /etc/sysconfig/vncservers was created.

Why wasn't this file created with the webvnc/amahi install?

[bigfoot65]

Interesting. So are you able to get it working now? Hard to say why WebVNC did not create that file. I have used it before and had no issues.

More investigation required. Keep in mind with all the updates to packages in Fedora 12, the wiki guidance may be outdated.

I would ask if you get this working to please update the wiki to include how to install. Please do not remove existing documentation, but maybe create a new page.

[ajaxmike]

I have been researching this problem all day and discovered the following:

• 1. The Amahi webvnc installation works just fine (not sure what was going on before, but after a few installs and reboots I verified it worked).
  2. The webvnc wiki entry could be updated for clarity which I will be happy to implement
  3. Unfortunately, the amahi webvnc feature requires that a desktop session be open which is incompatible with headless operation
  4. In F11, tigervnc replaced the previous vncserver and the Amahi vnc wiki entry is no longer useful.

I am wondering if we could provide instructions to configure webvnc for headless operation. Alternatively, we need to update the wiki to configure tigervnc for headless operation with Amahi.

I am happy to provide documentation effort (lots of IT documentation experience in a previous life) if someone can provide tech support.

Michael

[bigfoot65]

Awesome....that would be great if you could update the wiki. As for making WebVNC work headless, not sure how to go about it. Any ideas?

[ajaxmike]

The problem is there is virtually zero documentation for tigervnc (http://tigervnc.org/). It appears that most of the development was on internal efficiency, so perhaps some old docs from tightvnc or realvnc will be largely useful.

(sigh) When I get some time.

[bigfoot65]

Try this site http://62y8.sl.pt for more info. Seems like it might be useful.