Windows
You can operate RealVNC Connect programs from the graphical desktop in the standard way for Windows applications, or alternatively from the command line.
*By default, RealVNC Server in Service Mode starts automatically when the computer is powered on. You can change this from the Microsoft Services snap-in.
Operating RealVNC Server at the command line
By default, RealVNC Server is installed in C:\Program Files\RealVNC\RealVNC Server.
Note that commands for RealVNC Server in Service Mode must be run from an Administrator Command Prompt (right-click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt and select Run as administrator).
| Operation | Mode | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Server | User | vncserver.exe |
| Service | vncserver.exe -start | |
| Reload offline licenses and parameters without stopping | User | vncserver.exe -reload |
| Service | vncserver.exe -service -reload | |
| Get help | User | vncserver.exe -help |
| Service | vncserver.exe -service -help | |
| Stop RealVNC Server | User | vncserver.exe -stop |
| Service | vncserver.exe -service -stop |
If you installed RealVNC Viewer, then it will be in C:\Program Files\RealVNC\VNC Viewer by default.
If you downloaded standalone RealVNC Viewer, perhaps because you didn’t have administrative privileges to install, then it can just be run from the download location.
| Operation | Type | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Viewer | Standalone | <download-file>.exe |
| Installed | vncviewer.exe | |
| Start RealVNC Viewer and establish a direct connection | Standalone | <download-file>.exe <computer> |
| Installed | vncviewer.exe <computer> | |
| Get help | Standalone | <download-file>.exe -help |
| Installed | vncviewer.exe -help |
Mac
You can operate RealVNC Connect programs from the graphical desktop in the standard way for Mac applications, or alternatively from the command line.
By default, RealVNC Server in Service Mode starts automatically when the computer is powered on. Stop RealVNC Server to prevent this; your change is remembered.
Operating RealVNC Server at the command line
By default, RealVNC Server is installed in /Applications/RealVNC (denoted by <dir> below).
Note that commands for RealVNC Server in Service Mode must be run with elevated privileges, for example using sudo.
| Operation | Mode | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Server | User | /Library/vnc/vncserver-root |
| Service | <install-dir>/VNC\ Server.app/Contents/MacOS/vncserver_service | |
| Reload offline licenses and parameters without stopping | User | /Library/vnc/vncserver -reload |
| Service | /Library/vnc/vncserver -service -reload | |
| Get help | User | /Library/vnc/vncserver -help |
| Service | /Library/vnc/vncserver -help | |
| Stop RealVNC Server | User | /Library/vnc/vncserver -stop |
| Service | /Library/vnc/vncserver -service -stop |
Operating RealVNC Viewer at the command line
RealVNC Viewer is a disk image that you can ‘install’ by dragging it to the Applications folder.
| Operation | Command |
|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Viewer | /Applications/VNC\ Viewer.app/Contents/MacOS/vncviewer |
| Start RealVNC Viewer and establish a direct connection | /Applications/VNC\ Viewer.app/Contents/MacOS/vncviewer <computer> |
| Get help | /Applications/VNC\ Viewer.app/Contents/MacOS/vncviewer -help |
Linux
You can operate some RealVNC Connect programs from the graphical desktop in the standard way for your Linux distribution. Others must be operated from the command line.
Operating RealVNC Server at the command line
By default, RealVNC Server is installed in /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin. Note that:
- Commands for RealVNC Server in Service Mode must be run with elevated privileges, for example using sudo.
- For RealVNC Server in Virtual Mode, the vncserver symlink can be substituted for vncserver-virtual.
| Operation | Mode | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Server | Service |
systemctl start vncserver-x11-serviced.service #systemd /etc/init.d/vncserver-x11-serviced start #initd |
| User | vncserver-x11 | |
| Virtual | vncserver-virtual | |
| Virtual daemon |
systemctl start vncserver-virtuald.service #systemd /etc/init.d/vncserver-virtuald start #initd |
|
| Start RealVNC Server at every boot | Service |
systemctl enable vncserver-x11-serviced.service #systemd update-rc.d vncserver-x11-serviced defaults #initd |
| User | invalid operation | |
| Virtual | invalid operation | |
| Virtual daemon |
systemctl enable vncserver-virtuald.service #systemd update-rc.d vncserver-virtuald defaults #initd |
|
| Reload offline licenses and parameters without stopping | Service | vncserver-x11 -service -reload |
| User | vncserver-x11 -reload | |
| Virtual | DISPLAY=:<display-number> Xvnc -reload | |
| Virtual daemon | invalid operation | |
| Get help | Service | vncserver-x11-serviced -help and man vncserver-x11-serviced |
| User | vncserver-x11 -help and man vncserver-x11 | |
| Virtual | vncserver-virtual -list and man vncserver-virtual | |
| Virtual daemon | vncserver-virtuald -help and man vncserver-virtuald | |
| Stop RealVNC Server | Service |
systemctl stop vncserver-x11-serviced.service #systemd /etc/init.d/vncserver-x11-serviced stop #initd |
| User | vncserver-x11 -stop | |
| Virtual | vncserver-virtual -kill :<display-number> | |
| Virtual daemon |
systemctl stop vncserver-virtuald.service #systemd /etc/init.d/vncserver-virtuald stop #initd |
|
| Prevent RealVNC Server starting at boot | Service |
systemctl disable vncserver-x11-serviced.service #systemd update-rc.d vncserver-x11-serviced disable #initd |
| User | invalid operation | |
| Virtual | invalid operation | |
| Virtual daemon |
systemctl disable vncserver-virtuald.service #systemd update-rc.d vncserver-virtuald disable #initd |
Operating RealVNC Viewer at the command line
If you installed RealVNC Viewer, then it will be in /usr/bin or /usr/local/bin by default.
If you downloaded standalone RealVNC Viewer, perhaps because you didn’t have administrative privileges to install, then you must make the file executable before it can be run from the download location.
| Operation | Type | Command |
|---|---|---|
| Start RealVNC Viewer | Standalone | ./<download-file> |
| Installed | vncviewer | |
| Start RealVNC Viewer and establish a direct connection | Standalone | ./<download-file> <computer> |
| Installed | vncviewer <computer> | |
| Get help | Standalone | ./<download-file> -help |
| Installed | vncviewer -help |
Comments
Article is closed for comments.