Linux vnc : how to view the console

fedoralinuxvnc

I'm trying to figure how to view the console of a Fedora linux server by using vnc. In other words, I'm trying to see what a user normally sees as if they were physically sitting in front of the computer. As of now, I ssh in and run /usr/bin/vncserver, it seems to be starting ok.

in the log file I have 

vnc log show only:

Xvnc version 4.0 - built Jan 8 2005 16:57:17
Underlying X server release 60700000, The X.Org Foundation

error opening security policy file /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/xserver/SecurityPolicy
Could not init font path element /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TTF/, removing from list!
Could not init font path element /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/CID/, removing from list!

When I use a vncviewer from windows and do :3, it gives me X with a cmdline which doesn't really help me. I need to see what is on the console so I can see the menu options running on it. Any ideas how i can do this?

Update:
When I run

startkde &

I get the following:

[1] 4144
root@server1 .vnc]# which: no fs in ('usr/kerberos/sbin:/usr/kerberos/bin:/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/root/bin)
/usr/binstartkde: line 16: [: argument expected
Note enough free disk space on /tmp

startgnome just gives me a command not found error..

Best Answer

You need x11vnc to see the console session in VNC.

Though it sounds like you're not actually trying to view the console session on the computer, which is the session the local user is seeing when they sit at the computer. It sounds like you need a desktop environment. To get this, look into your ~/.vnc/xstartup file and add the command to start up the WDE you want when you start a VNC session, such as startkde & or startgnome &.

A step further, ditch VNC altogether and set up FreeNX and use NoMachine's client to connect to it. FreeNX is much better than VNC all around.

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