OSX, VNC & A Proper Remote Desktop Solution

This weekend I had a question posed to me: What VNC Server do you use on your MAC? 

Since MAC OS X Tiger 10.4, I pitched the third party VNC Server in favor of using the OSX built in version.  The response I received was "Really? How do you go about it."

Since this is such a powerful tool and I use it daily to access multiple systems, here is a step by step guide in setting your MAC up for remote desktop access.

First things first, let's take inventory of what software is required.  

1. MAC OS X Tiger 10.4.X

2. VNC Viewer Open Source Clients (Chicken of The VNC, JollyFastVNC)

I have used COV for quite some time, but recently JFV seems to be my new found client and at present my preference. However, since COV is on the APPLE site I'll use that to demonstrate configuration.

First things first, go to Tiger's System Preferences and select Sharing:

Select The Sharing ICON

In the Service list select Apple Remote Desktop 

The following Dialog Drops Down.  This is where VNC is available, its a bit obscure, but simple to implement from this point further.  

Select the "VNC Viewers May Control Screen with Password" check the box, choose a password and than hit "OK

"

Than from the Sharing Dialog select the FIREWALL Tab

Select Apple Remote Desktop

Now your locked an loaded.

Lets Download Chicken of The VNC and get to the setup dialog: 

The DISPLAY 0 above equates to port 5900 that VNC communicates from.  If you run VNC from the same computer it will work and verify the server's configuration.  However, I do this very thing for server validation.  Below is what it looks like:

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 If you try this on the localhost and want to break out of COV just Apple-Q to quit the application.

tags: osx  vnc  osx vnc  rdc  remote desktop  clientvnc  jollyfastvnc  open source  sensible open source  sos  

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