How to use the command vncserver (with examples)

VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is a graphical desktop sharing system that allows you to remotely control another computer. The vncserver command is used to launch a VNC desktop, providing the user with a virtual desktop environment.

Use case 1: Launch a VNC Server on next available display

Code:

vncserver

Motivation: This use case is useful when you want to quickly set up a VNC server on your machine without specifying a specific display. It will automatically assign the next available display for the server.

Explanation: The vncserver command without any arguments will launch a VNC server on the next available display. This display is typically represented by a number, starting from :1 and incrementing for each new server instance. By default, the server will use the default screen geometry.

Example output:

New 'X' desktop is machine_name:1

Starting applications specified in /home/user/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/user/.vnc/machine_name:1.log

Use case 2: Launch a VNC Server with specific screen geometry

Code:

vncserver --geometry widthxheight

Motivation: You may want to specify a specific screen geometry for your VNC server to fit your needs. For example, you may want it to match the size of your physical monitor or choose a lower resolution to optimize performance.

Explanation: The --geometry option allows you to define the screen width and height for your VNC server. The width and height values should be separated by the letter ‘x’ without any spaces. This option can be used in conjunction with the vncserver command to specify the initial screen geometry of the VNC desktop.

Example output:

New 'X' desktop is machine_name:1

Starting applications specified in /home/user/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/user/.vnc/machine_name:1.log

Use case 3: Kill an instance of VNC Server running on a specific display

Code:

vncserver --kill :display_number

Motivation: There might be times when you need to stop or terminate a specific instance of the VNC server running on your machine. Killing the VNC server on a specific display allows you to free up resources and shut down the associated VNC session.

Explanation: The --kill option is used to terminate a running VNC server process. You need to specify the display number of the server you want to kill by appending it after a colon (:). For example, vncserver --kill :1 will terminate the VNC server running on display :1.

Example output:

Killing Xtightvnc process ID 12345

Conclusion:

The vncserver command is a powerful tool for launching and managing VNC servers on your machine. By using the different options and arguments provided, you can easily configure and control your VNC desktop environment. Whether you need to launch a server on the next available display or specify a specific screen geometry, vncserver offers the flexibility to meet your requirements.