Enable VNC Password Authentication

This document (7004096) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 (SLED 11)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 (SLES 11)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

Situation

Remote access has been enabled in YaST under Network Devices --> Remote Administration (VNC). When connecting from a VNC viewer a session login is brought up with no VNC login required.

Resolution

Step 1
On the remote system open a terminal window and "su" to become the root user (if not already logged in as root) then enter the command:

vncpasswd

Enter the passwords as prompted. The first one for full remote access and the second for read-only access. This will create and store the passwords in the file "/root/.vnc/passwd".

Step 2
Open YaST and select Network Services-->Network Services (xinetd). Scroll down the list to the "vnc1" selection and click on it then click on the "Edit" button.

Change the "User:" selection to "root" (the default setting is "nobody").

Add the following text to the end of the "Server Arguments" line. Be sure to include a space between the last entry and this new argument:

-rfbauth /root/.vnc/passwd

Connect from the VNC viewer and you should now be asked for the vnc password prior to viewing the session login.

Additional Information

You will notice that multiple VNC sessions can be enabled in xinetd. The VNC password can be enabled on all of them by changing the user setting to root and adding the same server argument.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.