Remote control your Linux box (VNC ~= Remote Desktop on Windows)

For those who visit or live in the Windows world the built in Remote Desktop client and server capabilities are quite handy for administrative tasks.  It allows you to log onto one Windows computer via another.

Windows on the server side (the one you want to control, not necessarily a server)

• right click on My Computer > Properties > Remote tab
• ensure that remote Desktop "Allow Connections" is selected
  

Windows on the client side

• (Win 7 / Vista) All Programs > Accessories > Remote Desktop
• (Win XP) All Programs > Accessories > Communications > Remote Desktop  

pop in the host name & click on connect.


While administrators of Linux boxes generally will connect using ssh, to use a command line interface, the demand for GUI based remote control has increased.  So here are some instructions for configuring VNC on Linux if ssh & cli are not enough for you (note the instructions do not include ssh tunneling of VNC,  see future posts for tunneling):


Linux server & client instructions Configure Fedora 12 - 13 VNC remote access 

For a windows client download and install VNC Viewer it is a stand alone application.