Setup VNC Server in a Linux box

1. Setup VNC server. It comes with most of Linux distribution.
   
   • su -
     
   • vi /etc/sysconfig/vncservers
     add following line
     

     VNCSERVERS="3:robin"
     VNCSERVERARGS[3]="-geometry 1240x980 -depth 16 -nohttpd"
     

   • other samples for this file
     VNCSERVERS="1:tiger 2:albatros 3:leopard"
     VNCSERVERARGS[1]="-geometry 1024x768 -depth 16"
     VNCSERVERARGS[2]="-geometry 800x600 -depth 8"
     VNCSERVERARGS[3]="-geometry 1024x768 -depth 16"
     

2. cd user's home directory .vnc
   cd /home/robin/.vnc
   
3. vi xstartup, change it to following which will bring up gnome desktop
   #!/bin/sh
   
   # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
   # unset SESSION_MANAGER
   # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
   
   [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
   [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
   xsetroot -solid grey
   vncconfig -iconic &
   #xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
   #twm &
   
   exec /usr/bin/gnome-session &
4. run vncpasswd, create password
   
5. run as root, chkconfig --level 35 vncserver on
6. service vncserver restart
7. connect to vncserver
   

   vncviewer [Server's IP]:[Port]:[Display]
   
   port is 5900 + display number. My example is 5903
   

8. over ssh to connect to boston
   

    ssh -f -L 25903:boston:5903 robin@boston sleep 10;
   vncviewer 127.0.0.1:25903:3

   
   
9. other readings
   http://www.g-loaded.eu/2005/11/10/configure-vnc-server-in-fedora/