connect-via-VNC

Connect to Vivid Unit via VNC

Sometimes it will be more convient to control your Vivid Unit from another device (usually with bigger display, full sized keyboard and mouse etc.). If you just need a command line interface, you may connect to Vivid Unit via SSH. If you need desktop eniroment, then you can use VNC.

What is VNC?

VNC stands for virtual network computing, and it is a remote desktop sharing system for controling another computer remotely. VNC can display the remote computer’s desktop on your screen, and send your mouse and keyboard actions to the remote computer. This allows you to fully control the remote computer, just like using a local computer.

Enable/Disable VNC

By default Vivid Unit has x11vnc (VNC server) configured and enabled. You can run this command to check the VNC server status:

sudo systemctl status x11vnc

You will see something like this:

If you don’t want to expose this interface to others, you can disable VNC server by running this command:

sudo systemctl stop x11vnc

Check VNC server status again and you will see:

However this status only last until next reboot. If you want to indefinitely disable VNC, you can use this command:

sudo systemctl disable x11vnc

After running this command, VNC server will not start automatically after reboot.

Connect to Vivid Unit via VNC

If your PC installed Windows, then MobaXterm is a very good tool for VNC connection. It can also be used for SSH connection by the way.

MobaXterm provides a tool named “Network scanner”, and it lists all devices in your network that support certain service:

After the scan your Vivid Unit will be listed, and you can see it supports SSH and VNC. Just single click the button with small green tick sign, and it opens a window for VNC connection:

The remote hostname or IP address is automatically filled, so is the port. All you need to do is to click the “OK” button to initiate the connection. You may be requrested to fill in the password before openning the remote desktop.