VNC (Missing MENU ITEMS: ex. Add Users, Add Programs)

OCH-Stan · #1 25th June 2004, 02:30 PM

I upgraded to Fedora Core 2 (god knows why) and upgraded from Core 1, I installed VNC (tightVNC) and I noticed that MANY menu items are missing. I really need the add-user or redhat-user-config thing, and the add applications/programs.

OCH-Stan · #2 25th June 2004, 03:32 PM

What should I do to fix this???

OCH-Stan · #3 25th June 2004, 05:42 PM

Help would be GREATLY appreciated! A $ prize may be available for the person that helps...

taylor65 · #4 25th June 2004, 11:55 PM

Try Xwindows instead. I know that VNC is nice, but it's really better to use Xwindows when connecting to a linux/unix device, and it's better to use terminal services (rdesktop) when connecting to a Windows machine. By doing a search through this site, you'll see how to setup your FC2 machine to allow for Xwindows connections using xdmcp (look at System Settings -> Login Screen), and you'll get better performance and better compatibility that way.

OCH-Stan · #5 26th June 2004, 01:37 AM

The thing is, I'm running servers, but I'm a n00b with console and someone quoted "Stan's a point-and-clik admin." I don't want to get much more complicated with installing all these different things. Does XWindows have anything in common with VNC? I really like the look and furthermore don't understand why FC2 doesn't have the features of FC1. It's just an upgrade, isn't it? Why is it so different...

taylor65 · #6 26th June 2004, 02:48 AM

VNC was written back when there was no terminal services and when there weren't many Xwindows clients for Windows. So, VNC was a stop-gap measure to get compatibility between OSs, no longer needed, in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I used to use VNC in the past, and it was great, but it's no longer needed.

As for how difficult is Xwindows - here's how you can do it from one FC2 box to another FC2 box:

1 - enable xdmcp connections via System Settings -> Login Screen -> XDMCP tab on the FC2 box you want to access. Also, on the General tab, change the Remote greeter to Graphical Greeter.
2 - on the machine your'e on, type Xnest :30 -query <host>, where <host> is the other FC2 box.

That's it - no configuration necessary on either machine, unlike VNC. And no extra processes to run, unlike VNC. Xwindows is also much faster. And you can access multiple machines like this, just use a different virtual window number, ie. use Xnest :31 -query <host2> and Xnest :32 -query <host3>, etc. This works for any version of unix server you want to access.

OCH-Stan · #7 26th June 2004, 02:52 AM

Well, I'm connecting from a windows PC to a LINUX BOX (server). I use VNC to add users/etc. because I'm pretty n00b with console. Is XWindows like VNC? How would I connect to it? Is there JAVA cilent or a client like VNC to connect to the desktop?

OCH-Stan · #8 26th June 2004, 04:08 AM

BTW, the only thing I have in System Settings is 'Server Settings' and when I try to open that, it's blank too!

taylor65 · #9 26th June 2004, 04:53 AM

If you're using a Windows PC as the client, you'll have to look around to find an xwindows client, there are lots of them out there. If you have nothing in System Settings except Server Settings, you'll want to re-install FC2 and install more stuff (I'd recommend installing everything just so you're not missing something you need later).

OCH-Stan · #10 26th June 2004, 04:56 AM

never mind. Some buddies on IRC helped me. I had to do apt-get install system-config-users and system-config-packages! Take Care all!