TigerVNC

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TigerVNC is a client/server software package allowing remote network access to graphical desktops.

Installation

USE flags

USE flags for net-misc/tigervnc Remote desktop viewer display system

`+drm`	Build with DRM support
`+opengl`	Add support for OpenGL (3D graphics)
`+server`	Build TigerVNC server
`+viewer`	Build TigerVNC viewer
`dri3`	Build with DRI3 support
`gnutls`	Prefer net-libs/gnutls as SSL/TLS provider (ineffective with USE=-ssl)
`java`	Build TigerVNC Java viewer
`nls`	Add Native Language Support (using gettext - GNU locale utilities)
`xinerama`	Add support for querying multi-monitor screen geometry through the Xinerama API

Data provided by the Gentoo Package Database · Last update: 2024-11-01 09:45 More information about USE flags

Emerge

Those using the package for the VNC server need to install the package with the server USE flag enabled. This can be added to the package.use file (or directory), or specified one-shot-like on the command-line:

root #USE="server" emerge --ask --update --newuse net-misc/tigervnc

Note
Setting USE="server" as displayed in the example above will emerge the package with the specified USE flags, however the flags will not be preserved upon package upgrades. Be sure to set them in package.use in order to make flags persist when applying system updates.

Those installing just the client can simply emerge the package:

root #emerge --ask net-misc/tigervnc

Single Server Configuration

This configuration allows remote control of the entire Xorg X11 server.

The xorg module is always installed, but to make sure it is compatible with the currently installed server, those using this configuration can emerge the xorg-module package:

root #emerge --ask net-misc/tigervnc-xorg-module

Create the TigerVNC config file for Xorg X11:

root #mkdir -p /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d

FILE /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-vnc.conf

Section "Module"
	Load "vnc"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
	Identifier "Default Screen"
	Option "PasswordFile" "/etc/X11/vncpasswd"
EndSection

Create /etc/X11/vncpasswd

root #vncpasswd /etc/X11/vncpasswd

Multiple Server Configuration

Starting with version 1.12, tigervnc no longer supports starting servers as 'normal' user. A global configuration with sessions is now required. This paragraph can still be used to test the configuration.

Login as 'normal' user. The following steps can be taken for any user who wishes to configure the VNC server for remote connection.

Set a password:

user $vncpasswd

Start the server giving it an unused display number (for example :1 or :2):

user $vncserver :N

If desired, use a VNC client on either a local or remote machine to test the connection.

Once finished, kill the running vncserver by pressing C-c.

Displays

Setup the displays for OpenRC. Substitute each 'user' value below with the name of a user who will be running the VNC server on the machine:

FILE /etc/conf.d/tigervnc

DISPLAYS="user:1 user2:2"

Typically the value of :0 will be used for the server's own X display. This is why the example above starts by using the :1 display handle.

The above step is not required for systemd.

Setup the displays in the TigerVNC configuration file:

FILE /etc/tigervnc/vncserver.users

:1=user
:2=user2

Desktop environments

To setup the default desktop environment, add it to session= (or uncomment one from below):

FILE /etc/tigervnc/vncserver-config-defaults

# session=gnome
# securitytypes=vncauth,tlsvnc
# geometry=2000x1200
# localhost
# alwaysshared
 
# Other possible working sessions:
#session=e16-session
#session=enlightenment
#session=fvwm
#session=gnome-classic
#session=gnome-custom-session
#session=gnome
#session=gnome-xorg
#session=LXDE
#session=lxqt
#session=openbox
#session=plasma
#session=xfce
#session=Xsession

Each user who will be running a VNC server can override this configuration by adding it to ~/.vnc/config. There is a file /etc/tigervnc/vncserver-config-mandatory where the system administrator can override user's config. ~/.vnc/xstartup is no longer supported and the current server ignores it.

Services

OpenRC

Start the server:

root #rc-service tigervnc start

systemd

Start the server:

root #systemctl enable vncserver@:<display>.service

for each :display in /etc/tigervnc/vncserver.users

Usage

Connecting

user $vncviewer server:1

Connect over ssh with high resolution

user $vncviewer -Fullcolor -QualityLevel 9 -via user@remotehost localhost:1

user $vncviewer -Fullcolor -QualityLevel 9 -via user2@remotehost localhost:2