How to use VNC server on CentOS

How to use VNC server on CentOS

Assume you have CentOS installed with Gnome. If you want to remotely access the GUI to that machine, you can use vnc-server and a vnc client (like Chicken of the VNC). Here's how:

ssh to the machine. If it is behind a firewall, you might have to set up a tunnel.
Make sure vnc-server is installed:

% sudo yum install vnc-server

Run vnc-server:

% vnc-server

This is just to initially create configs and choose a password. Now Edit the file ~/.vnc/xstartup so it runs a gnome session instead of crappy twm:

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
exec gnome-session &

Kill off your vnc server and restart it:

% killall Xvnc
% vnc-server

Connect to your vnc server with host and display number reported with your favorite client. Yay.