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Cyro's Guide to VNC installation
Last updated on 06-07-2005

Different plataforms, huh?
Pick up you favourite Unix OS and start by downloading the compiled version from www.realvnc.com. Realvnc offers a freeware edition of VNC for various plataforms. This time I will teach you how to install in the following systems: Sun Solaris®, HP-UX® & IBM AIX® 4.3/5. If you are looking for MacOS®, Linux® or even Windows® you are on the wrong place. Also, it is important to know how VNC works, so I recommend you to install it on Windows®/Linux® first, in order to understand it. I will like to add that in this section I will not tell you how to compile the source for your OS. If you want to do that, go away.

Q: What's the difference between VNCserver for Unix and Windows®?
A: You have more than one way to see a remote display. You can control a different display or the same one (known as display :0). The first one mentioned is easy, but the server creates another display. The second one (x0) is ALWAYS tricky and you will suffer to make it work.

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Q: How can I shutdown the VNCserver?
A: You may notice when you have VNCserver running, you may not logout the computer. First, you need to kill VNCserver. To do that: vncserver -kill :1. Change the number 1 to your respective VNCserver display number.

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Q: How long did you take to write this help?
A: I've been trying to install VNC in Unix since 2002. I had no success until february 2005, when new versions were released by realvnc.

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VNCServer for Solaris® (Sparc)
First of all, you need to know how to install pkg files. This file is the package file that will allow you to install vnc with the following command: pkgadd -d /tmp/vnc-4_1_1-sparc_solaris.pkg

If you don't understand what I meant, I will explain. I downloaded the pkg file and placed it on the /tmp directory. Then I installed the package. You may notice we don't have any dependencies/pre-requisites, which is pretty cool. Now, you must run vncpasswd (to create a password) and after that vncserver. If you want to use x0vncserver, you gotta do that by typing x0vncserver -PasswordFile=/.vnc/passwd. In this case using root's vncpasswd file.


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Q: I don't have xauth in my PATH, what should I do?
A: After that, you may need to set some PATHs, if this is your case you need to do this in a terminal: PATH:/$PATH/usr/openwin/bin followed by export PATH. Do the same with /opt/sfw/bin.

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Q: I use CDE (Common Desktop Environment) but I can't see the real thing
A: Kill the vncserver, and then edit your .profile file and replace twm to dtwm

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Q: Does it work with Solaris i386/Intel?
A: Nope.

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VNCServer for HP-UX® (PA-RISC)
First of all, you need to know how to install depot files. Download the HP-UX version from the Realvnc website. Then run the following command: swinstall -s /tmp/vnc-4_1_1-parisc_hpux.depot (for example).


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VNCServer for AIX® (RISC)
vncserver
Works with AIX® 4.3.3 up to AIX® 5.1 (and beyond)

It's pretty IBM-ish. If you want to download the RPM from IBM's website, feel free. There you must download AIX® Toolbox for Linux Applications and then install vnc. Or you can escape IBM by downloading the BFF file from Bullfreeware. Realvnc website doesn't have version 4 compiled for AIX®. You will have to use the 3.3.x version. It's not as good as 4 but it does the job.

Option 1: If you stick with IBM: You need to download and install rpm.rte AIX® installp image. Instructions can be found here. And rpm.rte can be downloaded here.

Option 2: If you want to give Bullfreeware a chance: Download the EXE file, give proper permission to execute and do so. You will get two files, one with extension BFF and one BFF.ASC. Copy the file name and open another terminal and run smitty. There you must find AIX® "backup" tool and install the BFF file as a backup file. Then, you will be able to run it from the command line.

* Obs: IBM has archived the rpm installer for older versions of AIX® such as 4.3.3. To get that, browse the FTP and try an older file.

x0vncserver

Hahaha. Don't mind searching for that. It simply doesn't exist.


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Copyright
AIX® is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. HP-UX® is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard Company. Solaris® is a registered trademark of Sun Microsystems, Inc. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MacOS® is a registered trademark of Apple Computer. RealVNC® is a registered trademark of RealVNC Ltd.[/FONT]