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linuxremote-desktopvnc

Capturing session for remote control from a linux host

Use case:

  1. A does something on his box and gots stuck. He asks B (remote) for support.
  2. B logs into the session of A, sees all windows, A was seeing and is able to manipulate the GUI.

If A uses Windows it is very convenient to log into a running session e.g. via VNC. But if A uses Linux, AFAIK, this is not possible. Using VNC requires a "vncserver"-session, which is a separate session. You could get screen captures from remote by querying the X-server, but you cannot press buttons on the screen.

Is there some workaround for this?

Solution

  • There is x11vnc: "x11vnc allows one to view remotely and interact with real X displays (i.e. a display corresponding to a physical monitor, keyboard, and mouse) with any VNC viewer. It has built-in SSL encryption and authentication, UNIX account and password support, server-side scaling, single port HTTPS and VNC, mDNS service advertising, and TightVNC and UltraVNC file-transfer".

    It could be used with existing X11 session, without need to start one under "xvncserver".