Re: Off Topic : VNC

Dusan Bolek wrote:

> Just one thought from simple Unix user. Why do you need Xwindows
> through VNC to administer Unix? I know that for former Windows user it
> can look strange, but I always thought that VNC is utility for Windows
> administration, because Windows doesn't have a decent shell. :-)

For running OEM. For having a persitant virtual desktop that is accessible from any platform able to run VNC viewer.

Instead of using nohup and redirects to log files, I simply start a job interactively in the VNC desktop. I can then access that desktop from home, from the office, even from within a browser.

It makes it much easier and simpler to monitor that job's status, than grepping and tailing log files and trying to figure out where the job's is at.

I have a VNC desktop on every single Unix box I look after. Works great. In the office, I run the VNC viewers against all the HP boxes and display the VNV desktops on a HP Xterminal.. running Linux's sawfish as windows manager. Multiple logical displays. SHIFT ALT-TAB between them. Simply great.

Yeah.. at times you can have your cake and eat it too. :-)

> However, If you really need something to click on, I think that you
> should follow wise advise from Connor 'Pigeon' McDonald and do it
> proper way by using XWindows emulation. For example Reflection is not
> for free, but works great (with exception of not supporting SSH).

VNC server is a virtual server that supports X applications and Windows Managers. It gives you a *persistant* desktop, unlike normal X. That means network failure or xtermimal failure, does not result in a lost and aborted shutdown of your desktop.

It also means that your desktop is accessible from anywhere, by installing a very small footprint viewer. A mere 127KB EXE on Windows.

By contrast, X-Server for Windows are large, clunky, requires installation and configuration. And it does not provide you with a single persistant desktop that is accessible from other platforms.

I've used VNC for some years now and could not imagine doing support without it. :-)

--
Billy