VNC^® Enterprise Edition User Guide

Connecting to a host computer

Connecting to a host computer is a two-stage process using VNC Viewer for Java.

Downloading VNC Viewer for Java

The first stage is to download VNC Viewer for Java. To do this:

1. Start a Java-enabled web browser on the client computer. For more information on what this means, see www.java.com.

2. In the URL bar, enter http:// and a network address for the host computer, qualified by the port num­ber on which VNC Server is listening for download requests, for example http://192.168.2.187:5800.

If you do not know a network address for the host computer and you do not have access to it, you will need to consult your system administrator or a host computer user. If you do have access to the host computer, follow the instructions in Step 2: Start VNC Viewer on the client computer. Note that if you are connecting over a private network, the information you need is displayed in the VNC Server Status dialog, marked URL:

If you are connecting over the Internet, you will probably need to enter the network address of a router instead.

By default, VNC Server listens for download requests on port 5800. If the download request fails, it may be because VNC Server is listening on a different port; see Qualifying a network address with a port number for relevant information. A download request may also fail if the host computer is protected by a router and/or a firewall and these devices have not been configured to allow access to VNC Server at the correct port. For more information on this, and connection issues in general, see Troubleshooting connection.

3. If this is the first time you have used VNC Viewer for Java, you may be prompted to trust it:

(Windows XP)

You can do this in complete confidence. However, you can choose not to trust VNC Viewer for Java and still connect, though note you cannot copy and paste text between applications running on the client and host computers in the normal way.

In the example above, click the Run button to trust VNC Viewer for Java, and Cancel to continue connecting without trusting it.

If VNC Viewer for Java successfully downloads, the VNC Viewer: New Connection dialog opens:

(Windows XP. The web browser is Internet Explorer 7.)

Note that the web browser window must stay open while the connection is in progress.

Connecting to VNC Server

The second stage is to use VNC Viewer for Java to connect to VNC Server. This is the same as connecting from VNC Viewer.

By default, the VNC Server dropdown on the VNC Viewer: New Connection dialog displays the network address of the host computer from which VNC Viewer for Java was downloaded, qualified by the port number on which VNC Server is listening for connection requests (in the example below, the digit 0 corresponds to the default port, 5900):

(Windows XP)

For more information on network addresses and port numbers, see Step 3: Identify VNC Server on the host computer.

Note: Providing you chose to trust VNC Viewer for Java when you downloaded it, you can connect to a different host computer. Enter a valid network address in the VNC Server dropdown, qualified, if applicable, by the port number on which VNC Server is listening for connection requests.

To continue connecting:

1. From the Encryption dropdown, select an encryption option, or retain the default: Let VNC Server choose. For more information on this, see Step 4: Select an encryption option.

2. If you want to configure VNC Viewer for Java before you connect, click the Options button. For informa­tion on why you might want to do this, see Configuring VNC Viewer for Java before you connect.

3. Click the OK button.

You may be asked to confirm a signature that uniquely identifies VNC Server, and to authenticate yourself. For more information on these issues, see Step 5: Connect and authenticate to VNC Server.

If the connection is successful, VNC Viewer for Java displays the host computer’s desktop in a new window on the client computer. Carry on from Connected: The VNC Viewer for Java experience.

If the connection fails for any reason, start with Troubleshooting connection.

Configuring VNC Viewer for Java before you connect

VNC Viewer for Java is ready to connect to VNC Server and control a host computer out-of-the-box. You do not need to configure it. However, you can change some aspects to suit your requirements and environment if you wish.

Some properties must be configured before you connect. Most, however, can be configured once you are connected, and changes applied to the current connection. For more information, see Using the VNC Viewer for Java Connection Options dialog.

To configure VNC Viewer for Java before you connect, click the Options button in the VNC Viewer: New Connection dialog. The VNC Viewer: Connection Options dialog opens:

(Windows XP)

The following properties must be configured before a connection is made:

•  To make the connection more secure, choose an alternative to the default key length of 512 bits. This property is on the Security tab.

•  To ensure your privacy at the start of the connection, turn off Shared (don’t disconnect other VNC Viewers) in order to disconnect other users. This property is on the Misc tab.