Local vncviewer vs changing Unix display number

[Glenn Lovitz]

Response imbedded....

>-----Original Message-----
>From: vnc-list-admin@realvnc.com [mailto:vnc-list-admin@realvnc.com]On
>Behalf Of Joel E. Lieberman, Ph.D.
>Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 7:32 AM
>To: vnc-list@realvnc.com
>Subject: Local vncviewer vs changing Unix display number
>
>
>Hi folks -
>
>I have a question concerning best practices for sharing a VNC server session
>with Linux/Unix.
>
>Assume that I have a Xvnc server process set up for X1 display (server:1), I
>am at the physical console and a user is somewhere remote.
>
>I can effectively "share" the desktop (X1) with the other user by having
>them start a vncviewer directed to the server:1 while I connect by starting
>a local vncviewer in shared mode at my console.  This works correctly as
>expected.

### That is probably the best practice right there
>
>My question is this:  Is it also possible for me (at the console) to attach
>to the VNC Server's X1 display environment directly by setting my local Unix
>display to that X server, and if it is possible, would this be better or
>worse than starting my own local vncviewer as a means of "sharing" the
>vncserver session on X1?

# Yes and No!  You can set your console display to :1 but then you cannot
# set your VNC display to :1 - it would become display :2 (next available).
# There is a difference between the X display using a physical display
# adapter as the console and the Xvnc "virtual" display.  On Linux,
# x0rfbserver (download: http://download.hexonet.com/software/rfb/) is
# available to achieve your goal, but you must compile and install.
>
>I have not been able to set my 'nix display to the local X1 session (but I
>am not a Unix guru), which is why I asked if it is even possible.  If it is,
>would I be better off just using shared simultaneous vncviewers or would a
>native Unix display connection (for the local console login) be better?

# Use shared viewers -- remote console login can also introduce security
# problems where direct root login is limited to the console but unavailable
# to other X displays. 
>
>Thanks for any thoughts the group may have -
>
>Joel Lieberman

# Your welcome,
#
# Glenn Lovitz