Release notes

If upgrading from VNC Enterprise Edition or VNC Personal Edition, please read the Upgrade Guide.

  1. 5.0.5, released 6th March 2013

    • All platforms

      • FIXED: The VNC Server - File Transfer dialog now always appears.
      • The BlacklistTimeout VNC Server parameter now accepts a number of seconds between 1 and 2147483647.

    • UNIX/Linux

      • Improvements to CUPS printing backend.

    • Mac OS X

      • Improvements to CUPS printing backend.

  2. 5.0.4, released 28th January 2013

    • All platforms

      • FIXED: Text can now be copied and pasted in either direction if the connection was originally made to a computer at the login screen (that is, not yet logged on to a particular user account).

  3. 5.0.3, released 8th October 2012

    • All platforms

      • NEW: The mouse cursor snaps to a corner of the host computer's desktop if it exits the VNC Viewer window within a certain distance of a corner (configurable via the PointerCornerSnapThreshold parameter), making it easier to trigger hotspots under the latest operating systems (particularly Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.8).

    • Windows

      • Improved support for Windows 8.
      • Under Windows 8, connection notification messages are now displayed on the Start screen as well as in the Desktop app.
      • Under Windows 8, Desktop Duplication replaces VNC Mirror Driver as the optimal screen capture mechanism in most circumstances.
      • VNC authentication passwords are now created using the vncpasswd utility, rather than specified using multiple parameters.
      • FIXED: If connection notifications are disabled, messages are no longer shown when subsequently logging on to an account on the host computer.
      • FIXED: Multiple and collated copies of documents can now be printed to local printers.
      • FIXED: VNC Server no longer monitors the host computer’s clipboard so frequently, minimizing clashes with applications such as Excel.
      • FIXED: VNC Server no longer displays erroneous 10061 error messages when starting up on slow computers.

    • UNIX and Linux

      • The VNC Server in Virtual Mode daemon (vncserver-virtuald) now respects the BlacklistThreshold and BlacklistTimeout parameters in order to prevent denial-of-service attacks.

  4. 5.0.2, released 21st August 2012

    • Windows

      • FIXED: VNC Server in Service Mode no longer reports error 10038 (“SetBlocking”) when run in conjunction with certain third party software.

    • Mac OS X

      • NEW: Support for 10.8 (Mountain Lion). VNC is a signed (that is, legitimate) application for download from the Internet.
      • NEW: Support for Mac Book Pro computers with Retina displays.
      • FIXED: Connections can now be established to a computer whose display is asleep (lower of the two sliders in the System Preferences > Energy Saver pane). Note connections cannot be established if the computer itself is asleep.

  5. 5.0.1, released 5th July 2012

    • Windows

      • FIXED: RDP connections to 32-bit XP computers now succeed when VNC Server is running in Service Mode. Note that VNC Viewer users who subsequently connect must request control, since VNC and RDP connections cannot co-exist; the RDP user may or may not grant control requests.

    • Mac OS X

      • FIXED: VNC now installs on case-sensitive HSFX file systems.
      • FIXED: Multiple monitors attached to 10.6 (Snow Leopard) computers are now displayed correctly.
      • FIXED: The graphical Licensing Wizard can now always be used to license VNC Server.

  6. 5.0.0, released 7th June 2012

    • All platforms

      • NEW: VNC Server providing basic remote control freely available across all supported platforms.
      • NEW: VNC Server containing premium security and performance features available for use across all supported UNIX/Linux and Mac OS X platforms.
      • NEW: Apply a license key at any time to unlock premium features without installing software.
      • NEW: The same license key can be applied on any platform, simplifying mixed deployments.
      • NEW: Grace period of seven days in which to license VNC Server permanently after trial, or if an existing license key has expired.
      • NEW: VNC Server user interface with improved access to diagnostic and troubleshooting information, and a licensing and repair wizard.
      • NEW: VNC Viewer can automatically reconnect in certain circumstances, for example when a host computer user logs or switches out.
      • NEW: VNC Viewer explicitly warns about unencrypted connections.
      • NEW: VNC Viewer can connect via SOCKS/HTTP proxy servers that require BASIC authentication.

    • Windows

      • NEW: Support for Windows 8 Release Preview.
      • The VNC Server executable has been renamed from winvnc4.exe to vncserver.exe.
      • VNC Server in Service Mode no longer automatically restarts if it was explicitly stopped before a computer is rebooted.
      • VNC Server in Service Mode need no longer be pre-registered before it is started at the command line.
      • VNC Server no longer requires a separate vncconfig utility in order to permit configuration.

    • Mac OS X

      • NEW: Support for Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) Server.
      • The VNC Server binary has been renamed from macvnc to vncserver.
      • VNC Server configuration files are now located in ~/.vnc/config.d (User Mode) and ~/var/root/config.d (Service Mode) directories, rather than settings in prefs files.
      • VNC authentication passwords are now stored in standard configuration rather than in separate password files.
      • RSA public/private key pairs can now be generated by a single command rather than a separate vnckeygen utility.
      • Single-sign on authentication is now implemented using a symbolic link rather than the SSOLib VNC parameter.

    • UNIX and Linux

      • NEW: Support for Ubuntu 11.04+, Debian 6, RHEL/CentOS 6, Fedora 14+, and Solaris 11.
      • NEW: VNC Server in Service Mode re-implemented and available across all supported platforms.
      • The VNC Server in User Mode binary has been renamed from x0vncserver to vncserver-x11.
      • The VNC Server in Virtual Mode binary has been renamed from vncserver to vncserver-virtual (note vncserver is now a symbolic link).
      • VNC Server no longer requires a separate vncconfig utility in order to permit configuration and operations such as file transfer and copy and paste text.
      • VNC authentication passwords are now stored in standard configuration rather than in separate password files.
      • RSA public/private key pairs can now be generated by a single command rather than a separate vnckeygen utility.
      • Single-sign on authentication is now implemented using a symbolic link rather than the SSOLib VNC parameter.