How to configure virtual network computing [vncserver] in Linux CentOS Server 7 and 8?

by admin
  • In Linux CentOS 7 and 8 install tigervnc-server using yum with yum install tigervnc-server tigervnc
  • Install X Window System on CentOS 8 with yum group install GNOME base-x or yum groupinstall "Server with GUI".  On CentOS 7 install X Window System with yum groupinstall gnome-desktop x11 fonts or yum groupinstall "Server with GUI"
  • Set the Linux server to boot directly into the graphical user interface systemctl start graphical.target
  • After installing X Window System configure the VNC service by creating a VNC user account with useradd <yourusername> and set a password with passwd <yourusername>
  • Login to the server and create VNC password with vncpasswd
  • Create a VNC configuration file for the user <yourusername> with cp /lib/systemd/system/[email protected] /etc/systemd/system/vncserver@:1.service
  • Edit the /etc/systemd/system/vncserver@:1.service file and replace option “USER” with VNC user <yourusername>
  • Change 1 in /etc/systemd/system/vncserver@:1.service for every next VNC user. You should create one file for each user instance.
  • To change color depth, resolution, and other remote desktop options, add required values in ExecStart= as ExecStart=/sbin/runuser -l testuser1 -c "/usr/bin/vncserver %i -geometry 1024x768 -depth 24"
  • You must open VNC port in firewall with firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-port 5901/tcp and then reload firewall with firewall-cmd reload
  • Reload configuration with sytemctl daemon-reload
  • Enable the VNC service and make sure it starts at your next boot with systemctl enable vncserver@:1.service and systemctl start vncserver@:1.service
  • To configure the desktop environment for VNC on the server look xstartup file in ~/.vnc/xstartup. Following is on Gnome desktop;For KDE, xstartup is

# cat ~/.vnc/xstartup

#!/bin/sh
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
vncconfig -iconic &
dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session &

  • For KDE, xstartup is;

# cat ~/.vnc/xstartup

#!/bin/sh
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
#vncconfig -iconic &
#dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session &
startkde &

  • The last step is to install vncviewer on your local PC and adding IP address::port number of the remote server with vncviewer vncserver-ipaddress::59XX or vncviewer vncserver-ipaddress::5901
  • Note that 1 in 5901 will have to be changed for each instance of vncserver as in vncserver@:1.service
  • For any queries, chat with us or leave a comment. We will be happy to help to troubleshoot your server.

 

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