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Chapter 6: Secure SSH Tunneling & SDT Connector
6.9 SDT SSH Tunnel for VNC
Alternately, with SDT and Virtual Network Computing (VNC), Users and Administrators can securely access and control
Windows 98/NT/2000/XP/2003, Linux, Macintosh, Solaris and UNIX computers. There’s a range of popular VNC software
available (UltraVNC, RealVNC, TightVNC) freely and commercially. To set up a secure VNC connection, install and configure
the VNC Server software on the computer to be accessed. Then install and configure the VNC Viewer software on the Viewer
computer.
6.9.1 Install and configure the VNC Server on the computer to be accessed
Virtual Network Computing (VNC) software enables users to remotely access computers running Linux, Macintosh, Solaris,
UNIX, all versions of Windows and most other operating systems.
A. For Microsoft Windows servers (and clients):
Windows does not include VNC software, so you will need to download, install and activate a third party VNC Server software
package:
RealVNC http://www.realvnc.com is fully cross-platform, so a desktop running on a Linux machine may
be displayed on a Windows computer, on a Solaris machine, or on any number of other architectures.
There is a Windows server, allowing you to view the desktop of a remote Windows machine on any of
these platforms using exactly the same viewer. RealVNC was founded by members of the AT&T team who
originally developed VNC.
TightVNC http://www.tightvnc.com is an enhanced version of VNC. It has added features such as file
transfer, performance improvements and read-only password support. They have just recently included
a video drive much like UltraVNC. TightVNC is still free, cross-platform (Windows Unix and Linux) and
compatible with the standard (Real) VNC.
UltraVNC http://ultravnc.com is easy to use, fast and free VNC software that has pioneered and perfected
features that the other flavors have consistently refused or been very slow to implement for cross platform
and minimalist reasons. UltraVNC runs under Windows operating systems (95, 98, Me, NT4, 2000, XP,
2003) Download UltraVNC from Sourceforge's UltraVNC file list
B. For Linux servers (and clients):
Most Linux distributions now include VNC Servers and Viewers. They are generally launched from the (Gnome/KDE etc) front
end. For example, there’s VNC Server software with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and a choice of Viewer client software. To
launch:
• Select the
Remote Desktop
entry in the
Main Menu: Preferences
menu
• Click the
Allow other users
checkbox to allow remote users to view and control your desktop