2. Installation and Setup

 Make sure the rfbdrake package is installed and then access Rfbdrake through the Mandriva Linux Control Center: an Online Administration section is accessible from which you can start the Remote Control of another machine (Linux/Unix, Windows) utility[1].

2.1. Controlled Computer Setup

In this section, we assume you can access Rfbdrake. If this is not the case (typically remote administration tasks), then you need to:

  1. Make sure the tightvnc-server package is installed on the remote machine.

  2. Connect to the remote machine using ssh.

  3. If it's not already running, start the VNC server by executing vncserver in a console. If this is the first time vncserver is run on teh system with that user account, then you have to enter the password clients will have to use to connect and confirm it. The system informs you which display number clients have to use. Run vncserver -kill :DISPLAY_NUMBER when you no longer need the VNC server.

Then connect as a client to control the remote machine (see Seção 2.2, “Controlling Computer Setup”).

For the machine that will act as the controlled (server) computer, select the Allow control of my machine (linux server) option. Fill the Set Password field. This is mandatory or Rfbdrake will complain. Please bear in mind that this password is not related to the user's local/remote account password in any way.

Figura 2.1. Server Options

Server Options

 Once you click on the Launch server this icon indicates that the computer is ready to accept incoming VNC connections. Closing it will stop the VNC server. Right-click on it to access a pop-up menu with some options.

[Nota]Nota

If the system to be controlled is behind a firewall, then you have to make sure that port tcp/5900+N is opened in the firewall, where N is the VNC server display number.

2.2. Controlling Computer Setup

On the machine which will act as the controller (viewer) computer, select the Want to take control (linux client) option. Fill the Remote server Address pull-down list with the IP address or hostname of the computer to be controlled. Fill the Display Number field with the remote computer's display number, or leave it empty to use the default (display number :0).

Figura 2.2. Viewer Options

Viewer Options

To access the VNC server, enter its related password in the Enter Password field. Put a mark in the FullScreen check-box to have the remote computer's desktop use all of the controller computer's screen. Otherwise the remote desktop will be displayed in a window. Once you are satisfied with your settings, click on the Connection button to access the remote computer.



[1] You can also launch Rfbdrake by choosing Internet+Remote accessVirtual Network Connection in the main menu.