Installation and Setup

You can install Rfbdrake by issuing urpmi rfbdrake, as root, on a terminal window or by using Rpmdrake. Once the package is installed, you can access Rfbdrake through the Mandrakelinux Control Center: an Online Administration section will be accessible from which you can start the Remote Control (Linux/Unix, Windows) utility[6].

Controlled Computer Setup

In this section, it is assumed that you, or the person that you are assisting, can access Rfbdrake. If this is not the case (typically remote administration tasks), then you will need to:

  1. Make sure that the tightvnc-server package is installed on the remote machine.

  2. Connect to the remote machine, typically using ssh.

  3. If it's not already running, start the VNC server by executing vncserver in a console.

Then connect as a client to control the remote machine (see the section called “Controlling Computer Setup”). If you can launch Rfbdrake on the server, then follow the instructions below.

Figure 9.1. Server Options

Server Options

For the machine that will act as the controlled (server) computer, select the Allow control of my machine (linux server) option. Fill the Set Password field. This is mandatory or Rfbdrake will complain. Please bear in mind that this password is not related to the user's local/remote account password in any way.

This icon will appear once you click on the Launch server button to indicate that the computer is ready to accept incoming VNC connections. Closing it will stop the VNC server. Right-click on it to access a pop-up menu with some options.

Controlling Computer Setup

Figure 9.2. Viewer Options

Viewer Options

On the machine which will act as the controller (viewer) computer, select the Want to take control (linux client) option. Fill the Remote server Address pull-down list with the IP address or hostname of the computer to be controlled. Fill the Display Number field with the remote computer's display number, or leave it empty to use the default (display number :0).

To access the VNC server, enter its related password in the Enter Password field. Put a mark in the FullScreen check-box to have the remote computer's desktop use all of the controller computer's screen. Otherwise the remote desktop will be displayed in a window. Once you are satisfied with your settings, click on the Connection button to access the remote computer.



[6] You can also launch it by accessing Internet+Remote access->Virtual Network Connection from the main menu.