VNC over SSH

For security, all VNC connections must use ssh tunnels.

The csovnc.pl script is the recommended method of connecting to the VNC desktops. It works on Mac OSX and linux systems.

Download the csovnc.pl script to a convenient location. Make it executable:
mycomp> chmod 755 csovnc.pl
The script sets up the ssh tunnel and opens the VNC viewer:
mycomp> csovnc.pl -C -l user function
The script recognizes either function names or port numbers. For example, to connect to the UIP desktop:
mycomp> csovnc.pl -C -l user uip
Choose the desktop function from this table.
Some instruments use more than one desktop; run the script again if necessary.
On linux, the script tries the vncviewer, krdc, and vinagre viewers, in that order. To change the order, i. e., to try krdc before vncviewer, use -v:
mycomp> csovnc.pl -C -v viewer -l user function

It is also possible to run the viewer on kilauea with an X window display on your local computer. This is also appropriate if you are at the telescope.
mycomp> ssh -C -X user@kilauea.caltech.edu
kilauea> csovnc.pl function

If the csovnc.pl script fails for some reason, manual configuration may be necessary.
In these instructions, N is the VNC desktop number and 59NN is the VNC port. Desktop 1 corresponds to port 5901, etc.
Choose the desktop function and corresponding port number from this table.
To connect to more than one virtual desktop simultaneously, change the intermediate port number, 12345 → 12346, etc., for the subsequent connections.

Either download and use the tunnelopen.pl script,
mac> tunnelopen.pl -C -l user vnc://kilauea.caltech.edu:59NN
Or setup the tunnel and screen sharing (vnc viewer) manually. You'll need two terminal windows:
mac1> ssh -C -L 12345:localhost:59NN user@kilauea.caltech.edu
mac2> open vnc://localhost:12345

Either use vncviewer with the via option,
linux> vncviewer -shared -via user@kilauea.caltech.edu :N
- Not all versions of vncviewer support the via option.
- With this method, enabling ssh compression is complicated.
Or setup the tunnel and VNC viewer manually. You'll need two terminal windows:
linux1> ssh -C -L 12345:localhost:59NN user@kilauea.caltech.edu
linux2> vncviewer -shared localhost::12345

It is also possible to run the VNC viewer on kilauea with an X window display on your local computer. This is also appropriate if you are at the telescope.
mycomp> ssh -C -X user@kilauea.caltech.edu
kilauea> vncviewer -shared localhost:N