8.16. Displaying the Same Windows Desktop to Multiple Remote Users

Problem

You want to run a remote demo to several of your users, or conduct a class, or otherwise set it up so that several people can share the same remote Windows desktop.

Solution

TightVNC supports multiple concurrent users. Anyone with a VNC viewer can connect: Linux , Mac, or other Windows users.

First, configure the TightVNC server on Windows to accept multiple connections. Double-click the systray VNC icon, or open Start → TightVNC → Show User Settings. Go to the Administration tab, and check "Automatic shared sessions."

Now, your users can log in to Windows in the usual manner by entering the hostname or IP of the Windows PC in their VNC clients. In VNC viewers, the port number is 5900. In the KDE Remote Desktop Connection (KRDC) viewer, it looks like Figure 8-7 and Figure 8-8.

Now, imagine what happens when all of your users are connected—do you want them to have control of the mouse and keyboard, or do you wish to lock them out? Do you want to allow remote control only when the local Windows user is idle? Configure these options on the Server tab under Input handling.

Discussion

TightVNC does not have any sort of user-monitoring tools—the only way it shows client connections is that the systray icon changes color. There are a couple of useful client-management options when you right-click the systray icon. You can block new users from connecting, or kick off the entire lot of connected clients.

Login screen

Figure 8-7. Login screen

Back home at the ranch

Figure 8-8. Back home at the ranch

You may also view the session in a Java-enabled web browser. Enter the connection parameters in standard URL form, plus the port number:

	http://powerpc:5800

Or, use the IP address:

	http://192.168.1.28:5800

On Debian, you need the tightvnc-java package installed on the server. The TightVNC server RPMs and source tarballs include the Java component.

See Also