AIX TIPS

Subject: Setting Up VNC

Audience: All

Date: June 11, 2005

Virtual Network Computing (VNC) is a useful utility that provides remote graphics capability. For example, you can use VNC to display a graphics session from your server (Unix/Linux/Windows) on your PC. VNC is free, and is available on the Linux Toolbox for AIX CD.

The Linux Toolbox version of "vncserver" may refuse to start. If you see the following error in the "vnc" log ($HOME/.vnc/*.log), see the workaround below.

Font directory '/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/' not found - ignoring

Fatal server error:
could not open default font 'fixed'

The workaround is to edit "/usr/bin/X11/vncserver" file. Go to the section

# Add font path and color database stuff here, e.g.:
#
# $cmd .= " -fp /usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/";
# $cmd .= " -co /usr/lib/X11/rgb";
#

uncomment the third line, and change it to:

$cmd .= " -fp /usr/lib/X11/fonts/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/";

The problem can also be circumvented using a font server. See " Setup and Use of a Fontserver".

For more information on VNC, see

Update April 12, 2006 Here's how to change from the default window manager twm to CDE.

Once you run vncserver, it will create a file called ~/.vnc/xstartup

Edit that file, comment out all the lines, and add this line:
# This line gives you a CDE desktop when you sign on to VNC
/usr/dt/bin/dtsession &

Now restart your vncserver to pick up the change.
vncserver -kill :1
vncserver

---

Still having problems? If so, try Doug Ranz' method

VNC-AIX Installation Nutshell

07-Dec-2006

Check for Updates

Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved.

Douglas R. Ranz, [e-mail]

 

Q: What is VNC?

A: VNC permits you to access a remote AIX desktop GUI. The AIX system runs the VNC Server; the user runs a VNC viewer (or IE6 w/Java).

The VNC server for AIX5L is available for download from:

 

 

1. Install the RPM (on AIX5L) using the command: rpm -Uhv vnc*

 

2. Edit: /usr/bin/X11/vncserver

 

Chg to: $cmd .= " -ac";

Chg from: $cmd .= " -auth $xauthorityFile";

Chg to: $cmd .= " -fp /usr/lib/X11/fonts/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/";

Chg from: # $cmd .= " -fp /usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/";

Chg to: $vncClasses = "/opt/freeware/vnc/classes";

Chg from: $vncClasses = "/usr/local/vnc/classes";

 

3. Login as a regular (non-root) user and enter the command: vncserver

 

4. You will be prompted to enter (create) your VNC password and the program will exit.

 

5. Start the VNC server using the command: vncserver

 

New 'X' desktop is aix53.hsd1.mi.comcast.net:1

Starting applications specified in /home/dranz/.vnc/xstartup

Log file is /home/dranz/.vnc/aix53.hsd1.mi.comcast.net:1.log

 

6. In IE6’s address bar, enter the complete URL for the VNC server instance. The ‘trick’ is to know that you must translate the assigned displayID (:1) to the correct port number.

 

Examples:

:1 translates to :5801

:2 translates to :5802

:3 translates to :5803

 

Based the the VNC startup message; the correct/complete URL is:

Hint: It will fail if you omit the http://