Remote login using x11vnc for Hoary (Xubuntu) Server

Installation of x11vnc server (port 5900) to the remote desktop (RD) PC (tested using KRDC)

• Install x11vnc and set VNC password for security, as it is described here.
  
• Enable remote desktop login: open with sudo the file
  

  /etc/gdm/gdm.conf

  find and change the following lines of [xdmcp] section to be:
  

  [xdmcp]
  Enable=true
  MaxPending=4
  MaxWait=15
  DisplaysPerHost=2
  Port=177
  Willing=/etc/gdm/Xwilling
  

• Turn on VNC server after each reboot: open with sudo the file

  /etc/gdm/Init/Default

  and append the line:
  

  /usr/bin/x11vnc -dontdisconnect -shared -forever -rfbport 5900 -bg -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -rfbauth /home/your_login_name/.vnc/passwd
  

  before

  exit 0

  line. This way you can login to the remote PC, without loosing your login session each time you disconnect your VNC client. Thus, the next time(s) that you will connect with your VNC client again, you will see your RD session (until you logout -or reboot- the remote PC).
  


• Turn up VNC server after each login: open with sudo the file

  /etc/gdm/PreSession/Default

  and append the line:
  

  /usr/bin/x11vnc -dontdisconnect -shared -forever -rfbport 5900 -bg -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -rfbauth /home/your_login_name/.vnc/passwd
  

  before

  exit 0

  line. This is a workaround to the known problem of gdm, which kills x11vnc server after login. Note however that, in order to login to remote PC using this workaround, you have to connect twice with your VNC client:
  • the first one to give login and passwd and
  • the second to use your remote Xubuntu Desktop.
  
  
• Restart gdm:

  sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart