Using VNC to Connect to Solaris Computers from PC

By David Delene: Update August 14, 2006

Below are the step-by-step instructions for how to setup and use VNC to connect to Solaris computers in the Department of Atmospheric Science at the University of North Dakota. This includes the Cumulus, Stratus, and Lightning servers. Please send questions to David Delene (delene@aero.und.edu).

Make sure your using the zsh SHELL

1. Edit the file .dtprofile in your Home directory.

2. Add the following at the end of the file: SHELL=/bin/zsh

3. Save file.

VNC setup on Solaris computer (i.e. thunder.atmos.und.edu)

1. Connect to solaris computer using ssh client (i.e. ssh cumulus.atmos.und.edu)

2. cd ~ (change to your home directory)

3. mkdir .vnc (create directory where vnc files are keeped)

4. cd .vnc (change to the vnc directory)

5. ln -s /usr/dt/bin/Xsession_vnc xstartup (create a symbolic link to the typical X window startup script. This defines the X window session vnc will use.)

6. vncpasswd (Sets the vnc login password.)

Start your VNC Server on Solaris Computer (i.e. thunder.atmos.und.edu)

1. Connect to Solaris computer from PC using ssh client (i.e. ssh cumulus.atmos.und.edu)

2. type “vncserver -nolisten local” to start server.

3. Note the number of your vnc session, i.e. cumulus:1

Start VNC Client on PC (i.e. Window XP computer)

1. If necessary, get tightVNC from  http://sourceforge.net/projects/vnc-tight/ and install.

2. Start VNC client on your PC and connect to cumulus.atmos.und.edu. Select File – New Connection. Under the “VNC Settings” tab select “Linux/Unix Variant) Set the Display number to the number of your vnc session, i.e. 1

End VNC Client Session

1. Kill the VNC client program (i.e. File->End).

End VNC Server Session

1. SSH to thunder.atmos.und.edu

2. Type “vncserver -kill :? Where ? Is the number of your vnc session, i.e. vncserver -kill :1

SSH tunneling using Putty (Windows XP)