[Gloucs] RealVNC Vs TightVNC

[Andrew Oakley]

David Leadbeater wrote:
> > x11vnc...
> I think that is actually 'Xvnc', close but not the same ;)
> x11vnc is a special server that connects to an existing X desktop
> (normally one being displayed by a normal X server). You can't use it
> standalone like Xvnc.

On the third hand, if you usually leave your machine logged in to an X
session (and locked when away from your desk, I'd hope), x11vnc is
incredibly useful, allowing you to carry on from where you left off. On
the downside, if you don't also turn your monitor off when you leave
your desk, everyone in the room can see what you're doing.

I have GDM set to auto-login on my home server, then I have the gnome
session set to run x11vnc and lock the screen. If someone else wants to
use my machine, they use the screen lock's user-switcher and start a
parallel session as the guest user. Only downside is that only one X
session can use direct rendering, so my GDM auto-login ensures that I
get first dibs on the 3D desktop. I have the guest user .xsession set up
to run nothing but openbox and firefox anyway, so they're hardly likely
to need 3D.

I've been playing around a lot with guest user accounts, you may recall
I did a talk on my loadguest/saveguest hacky scripts. I've now pretty
much perfected an openbox+firefox setup that is passwordless, wipes the
home directory and untars a known-good copy upon login, opens up a
full-screen instance of Firefox, has the obmenu locked down to prevent
access to the terminal etc, and uses the latest version of
NetworkManager which supports WiFi key sharing so that wireless internet
is available from boot time for all users (rather from Gnome login time
for a particular user). If there's sufficient interest I'd be happy to
do a talk on this kiosk-like "guest web browser only" setup at a future
meeting (but not September since I'll be busy with new twin babies).

Andrew Oakley
Head of Software Development
Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)
95 Promenade, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 1HZ
T 01242 211460  F 01242 211122  W www.hesa.ac.uk

 


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