The VNC technology was created by Olivetti & Oracle research lab in Cambridge, UK. It helps access/control a remote system using the Remote Frame Buffer protocol(RFB). VNC uses the client-server model where a VNC server is installed on the remote system and the VNC Client on the local system. Once permission is granted, the VNC server transmits a copy of the remote computer’s screen to the client. Software offering VNC include; TeamViewer, UltraVNC, TightVNC, TigerVNC, VNC4server, Vino e.t.c.
This guide aims to illustrate how to set up the RealVNC Server and Client on Rocky Linux 8|AlmaLinux 8. RealVNC is a company that provides VNC software. The software comprises a VNC Server and a VNC Viewer which one can use to initiate a Virtual Network Computing(VNC) connection.
RealVNC has a lot of amazing features. Some of them are:
- Secure – RealVNC is built from the ground up with security in mind, to balance the control you need with the privacy that compliance requires.
- Supports file transfer, printing and chat – During a session, you’re not restricted to just interacting with the remote screen.
- It offers an intuitive remote control – It allows one use mouse and keyboard (or touchscreen) as though they belong to the remote server.
- Supports several languages – RealVNC is available in French, German, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese as well as English, with more translations on the way.
- Provides attended and unattended access – one can connect to the remote system when owners are present or not
- Cross-platform support – it offers PC to PC and mobile to PC across Windows, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS and Android.
Now let’s plunge in!
Step 1 – Install Desktop Environment on Rocky Linux 8|AlmaLinux 8
Since VNC allows one to access and control the remote graphical desktop, it is required that you have a desktop environment installed on your system.
If you do not have GUI installed, you can install the Gnome GUI using the command:
sudo dnf update
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Server with GUI"Once installed, set the system to boot from the Graphical target.
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo systemctl defaultReboot the system and switch to the desktop environment installed.
sudo rebootStep 2 – Install the RealVNC server on Rocky Linux 8|AlmaLinux 8
Install the RealVNC server on the remote system by downloading the latest available versions from the RealVNC downloads page. From the page, select the appropriate file for your system.
You can as well pull the appropriate file using the command below:
##For 64-bit
wget https://downloads.realvnc.com/download/file/vnc.files/VNC-Server-6.9.1-Linux-x64.rpm
##For 32-bit
wget https://downloads.realvnc.com/download/file/vnc.files/VNC-Server-6.9.1-Linux-x86.rpmOnce downloaded, install RealVNC from the local registry with the command:
sudo yum localinstall VNC-Server-6.9.1-Linux-*.rpmSample Output:
Dependencies resolved.
================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
================================================================================
Installing:
realvnc-vnc-server x86_64 6.9.0.46599-1 @commandline 13 M
Installing dependencies:
libXaw x86_64 1.0.13-10.el8 appstream 193 k
xterm x86_64 331-1.el8_3.2 appstream 527 k
xterm-resize x86_64 331-1.el8_3.2 appstream 37 k
Installing weak dependencies:
xorg-x11-fonts-misc noarch 7.5-19.el8 appstream 5.8 M
Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install 5 Packages
Total size: 20 M
Total download size: 6.5 M
Installed size: 50 M
Is this ok [y/N]: y
With a successful installation, start and enable the VNC services.
sudo systemctl enable vncserver-virtuald.service
sudo systemctl start vncserver-virtuald.service
sudo systemctl enable vncserver-x11-serviced.service
sudo systemctl start vncserver-x11-serviced.serviceThe RealVNC server won’t start until you have the GDM display manager configured.
sudo vim /etc/gdm/custom.confProceed and uncomment the below line.
# Uncomment the line below to force the login screen to use Xorg
WaylandEnable=falseRestart the GDM display manager.
sudo systemctl restart gdm
Step 3 – Configure RealVNC server on Rocky Linux 8|AlmaLinux 8
We need to make several configurations on the server before we can initiate the communication with the client. The RealVNC server should start automatically, if it doesn’t, launch it from the App menu.
RealVNC starts with the below window.
You need to sign up for a free RealVNC team account. This account will make it easy to establish server-client communication. Ensure that you provide a working email address here.
License the RealVNC server by clicking on resolve
Provide the created account credentials and set the subscription.
Set a password for VNC
In the user access window, you can configure the attended/unattended access to the remote system.
You will be granted a preview of the made settings, agree to them by clicking on apply. Here, you need to provide a password for privileged access.
Once the settings have been made, finish by clicking done
You will have the RealVNC server set for remote desktop connections.
Step 4 – Set up a RealVNC Client.
To be able to control the remote system, we need the RealVNC viewer installed on the local system. The application can be installed on Android, Linux, Windows, macOS e.t.c. Download the RealVNC viewer application for your system from the RealVNC downloads page.
You can install the RealVNC Client on Linux with the below commands:
##On Debian/Ubuntu
wget https://downloads.realvnc.com/download/file/viewer.files/VNC-Viewer-6.22.207-Linux-x64.deb
sudo apt install ./VNC-Viewer-6.22.207-Linux-x64.deb
##On RHEL/CentOS/Rocky Linux 8
wget https://downloads.realvnc.com/download/file/viewer.files/VNC-Viewer-6.22.207-Linux-x64.rpm
sudo yum localinstall VNC-Viewer-6.22.207-Linux-x64.rpmOnce installed, launch the RealVNC Viewer using the command:
vncviewerThe Viewer will start with the below interface.
Sign in to the RealVNC account.
Once signed in, the RealVNC team will appear with the connected RealVNC servers. Connect to the server by clicking on it.
Agree to the identity check
Next, provide the set RealVNC password.
You will be able to gain remote access to the system.
Voila!
At this point, you can perform configurations and access files on the remote system. You should as well be able to enjoy the intuitive feel for RealVNC. I hope this was significant.
See more:
- How To Setup TigerVNC Server on CentOS 8 for RDP
- Install and Use Guacamole Remote Desktop on CentOS 8
- Install and Configure TigerVNC VNC Server on Debian
