Learn Remote Desktop - Installing a VNC Server on Linux

#Introduction

After understanding the VNC and RDP architecture in episode 2, it's time to get hands-on. Episode 3 guides you through installing a VNC server on Linux. There's more than one way — and choosing the right one from the start will save you a lot of time in the episodes ahead.

In this episode you'll get to know the four main VNC server options, then install TigerVNC and x11vnc across three distribution families: Debian/Ubuntu, RHEL/Rocky, and Arch. By the end of the episode, you'll have a server installed and know exactly which tool to use for which scenario.

#VNC Server Options

#The Four Main Implementations

Not all VNC servers are created equal. The four most relevant for you:

• x11vnc — shares the X11 display that's already running on the machine. It doesn't create a new session; it just opens a window to the existing desktop. Ideal for helpdesk and access to a physical desktop.
• TigerVNC (Xvnc / x0vncserver) — Xvnc creates a new virtual display without a physical monitor (multisession); x0vncserver shares the physical display like x11vnc.
• TightVNC — its main focus is Windows, but its history is closely tied to the Tight encoding carried by TigerVNC.
• GNOME Remote Desktop — a modern Wayland-based solution for GNOME desktops, managed through grdctl (episode 18).

A quick rule of thumb: use x11vnc to share a running desktop, use TigerVNC Xvnc to create a virtual display without a monitor, and use GNOME Remote Desktop if you're already on GNOME/Wayland.

#Installing on Debian and Ubuntu

#apt for Debian-Based Distributions

Let's start with the Debian/Ubuntu family. Update the package index and install the main VNC servers:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install x11vnc tigervnc-standalone-server tigervnc-common

The tigervnc-standalone-server package brings Xvnc, x0vncserver, and vncserver; tigervnc-common brings vncpasswd. Meanwhile, x11vnc comes from a separate package with the same name. For the client, install the viewers now as well:

sudo apt install tigervnc-viewer remmina

The apt install tigervnc-viewer remmina command installs two viewers at once: TigerVNC's command-line viewer and the GUI-based Remmina. You'll use both in episode 6.

#Verifying the Installation

Make sure all binaries are available by checking their versions:

x11vnc -version
vncserver -version
vncpasswd --help

If all three commands produce output without errors, the Debian/Ubuntu installation was successful.

#Installing on RHEL and Rocky Linux

#dnf for the RHEL Family

On the RHEL/Rocky family, the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository must be enabled first, because most VNC packages live there:

sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf install tigervnc-server tigervnc-server-minimal tigervnc

The tigervnc-server package brings Xvnc and vncserver. Unlike Debian, on the RHEL family x11vnc isn't always available in the standard repositories — if needed, install it from EPEL:

sudo dnf install x11vnc

The dnf install x11vnc command only succeeds if the package is available in EPEL for your RHEL version. If not, the already-installed TigerVNC remains the alternative.

#Verifying on RHEL/Rocky

rpm -qa | grep tigervnc
x0vncserver --help

The rpm -qa | grep tigervnc output shows the installed TigerVNC packages, and x0vncserver --help confirms the physical display sharing binary is available.

#Installing on Arch Linux

#pacman for Arch

Arch provides both main servers directly from the official extra repository:

sudo pacman -S tigervnc x11vnc

The tigervnc package on Arch bundles the Xvnc server, the vncviewer, and the vncpasswd tool in a single package. x11vnc is available as a separate package.

pacman -Q tigervnc x11vnc

The pacman -Q tigervnc x11vnc command shows the installed versions of both packages. If they print, Arch is ready.

#Installation Summary

#Command Table by Distribution

For easy reference, here's the summary:

Don't forget to install a viewer on the client machine — tigervnc-viewer or Remmina — because episode 6 will use it soon. One habit you should start building: after every install, always verify versions so you know exactly which features are available.

#Conclusion

Episode 3 completes the installation steps: you now know the four VNC server options, and you've installed TigerVNC and x11vnc on Debian/Ubuntu, RHEL/Rocky, and Arch with the correct package commands for each.

Key takeaways:

• x11vnc for sharing a running display; TigerVNC Xvnc for virtual displays.
• Debian/Ubuntu: apt install x11vnc tigervnc-standalone-server.
• RHEL/Rocky: enable EPEL first, then dnf install tigervnc-server.
• Arch: pacman -S tigervnc x11vnc covers server, viewer, and vncpasswd.
• Always verify versions after installation as a good habit.

In the next episode, episode 4, we practice the first tool: x11vnc for sharing a running X display — the basic -display :0 -auth guess command, the -forever, -noxdamage, and -ncache options, and authentication configuration via -passwdfile, -localhost, and -rfbauth. Make sure x11vnc is installed, because we're turning on our first share session right away!