RealVNC
Encyclopedia
RealVNC is a company that provides remote access
software. The software consists of a server and client application for the Virtual Network Computing
(VNC) protocol to control another computer's screen remotely.
(CEO) and other members of the original VNC team at AT&T. For a desktop to desktop connection RealVNC runs on Windows
, Mac OS X
, and many Unix-like
operating systems. A RealVNC client also runs on the Java platform and on the Apple iPhone
, iPod touch
and iPad
and Google
Android devices. A Windows-only client, VNC Viewer Plus is now available, designed to interface to the embedded server on Intel AMT
chipsets found on Intel vPro
motherboards.
For remote access to view one computer desktop on another, RealVNC comes in one of three editions:
As of release 4.3 (released August 2007) separate versions of both the Personal and Enterprise editions exist for 32-bit and 64-bit systems. The latest release (4.6) includes features such as HTTP proxy support, chat, an address book, remote printing, unicode support, and connection notification.
. It defaults to TCP port 5900. When making a connection over the internet, the user must open this port in the local firewall as well as configure port forwarding
to forward TCP Port 5900 (or the customized port respectively) to the local machine address if behind a NAT
Router.
As an alternative, one can tunnel VNC through SSH
, avoiding the opening of additional ports and automatically traversing the NAT router. SSH also provides encryption of the connection between the VNC server and viewer.
The VNC protocol is pixel based. Although this leads to great flexibility (i.e.- any type of desktop can be displayed), it is often less efficient than solutions that have a better understanding of the underlying graphic layout like X11. Those protocols send graphic primitives or high level commands in a simpler form (i.e.- open window), whereas RFB just sends the raw pixel data.
Remote access
In telecommunication, the term remote access has the following meanings:#Pertaining to communication with a data processing facility from a remote location or facility through a data link...
software. The software consists of a server and client application for the Virtual Network Computing
Virtual Network Computing
In computing, Virtual Network Computing is a graphical desktop sharing system that uses the RFB protocol to remotely control another computer...
(VNC) protocol to control another computer's screen remotely.
History
RealVNC Ltd. was founded by Andy HarterAndy Harter
Andy Harter FREng CEng FIET FBCS CITP is the CEO of RealVNC.Harter was born in Yorkshire in 1961, and attended the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield. He went on to the University of Cambridge, where he studied Mathematics and Computer Science at Fitzwilliam College and Corpus Christi College...
(CEO) and other members of the original VNC team at AT&T. For a desktop to desktop connection RealVNC runs on Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
, and many Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
operating systems. A RealVNC client also runs on the Java platform and on the Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
, iPod touch
IPod Touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
and Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
Android devices. A Windows-only client, VNC Viewer Plus is now available, designed to interface to the embedded server on Intel AMT
Intel Active Management Technology
Intel Active Management Technology is hardware-based technology for remotely managing and securing PCs out-of-band.Currently, Intel AMT is available in desktop PCs with Intel Core 2 processor with Intel vPro technology and available in laptop PCs with Centrino or Centrino 2 platform with vPro...
chipsets found on Intel vPro
Intel vPro
Intel vPro technology is computer hardware technology to allow remote access to the PC independent of the state of the operating system or power state of the PC. It consists of a set of features built into a PC's motherboard and other hardware...
motherboards.
For remote access to view one computer desktop on another, RealVNC comes in one of three editions:
- Free Edition – free, open sourceOpen sourceThe term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
version distributed under the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
; runs on various flavors of Unix (Linux, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX) and some versions of Windows (not Vista or Server 2008). Note that users who wish to use this free version, as supplied by the realvnc.com site, may need (for example) to patch and compile the XFree86XFree86XFree86 is an implementation of the X Window System. It was originally written for Unix-like operating systems on IBM PC compatibles and is now available for many other operating systems and platforms. It is free and open source software under the XFree86 License version 1.1. It is developed by the...
source code by themselves, as the free binaries available for download are outdated and typically fail to operate in modern environments. Fortunately, almost all Linux distributionLinux distributionA Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
s include an updated/customised version of the RealVNC free edition. For example, in DebianDebianDebian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
and its derivatives, the RealVNC server and client appear under the packages named vnc4server and xvnc4viewer, respectively.
- Personal Edition – commercial version geared towards home or small-business users, with authentication and encryption, remote printing, chat and file transfer; only runs on Windows.
- Enterprise Edition – commercial version geared towards enterprises, with enhanced authentication and encryption, remote printing, chat, file transfer and a deployment tool for Windows; runs on Windows, Mac OS X and various flavours of Linux and UNIX.
As of release 4.3 (released August 2007) separate versions of both the Personal and Enterprise editions exist for 32-bit and 64-bit systems. The latest release (4.6) includes features such as HTTP proxy support, chat, an address book, remote printing, unicode support, and connection notification.
Client
RealVNC clients usingvncviewer can run in full-screen mode; they use the F8 function-key as the default key for bringing up an options menu (which includes the option to, among other things, switch off full screen mode or to forward a Control-Alt-Delete key-sequence).Server
Server component of RealVNC allows computer to be remotely controlled by another computer. The software can be installed for legitimate purposes, but it can also be installed from a remote location by an attacker with malicious intent. It is detected as RemoteAccess:Win32/RealVNC by Windows Defender.Connectivity
RealVNC uses the RFB protocolRFB Protocol
RFB is a simple protocol for remote access to graphical user interfaces. Because it works at the framebuffer level it is applicable to all windowing systems and applications, including X11, Windows and Macintosh...
. It defaults to TCP port 5900. When making a connection over the internet, the user must open this port in the local firewall as well as configure port forwarding
Port forwarding
Port forwarding or port mapping is a name given to the combined technique of# translating the address and/or port number of a packet to a new destination# possibly accepting such packet in a packet filter...
to forward TCP Port 5900 (or the customized port respectively) to the local machine address if behind a NAT
Network address translation
In computer networking, network address translation is the process of modifying IP address information in IP packet headers while in transit across a traffic routing device....
Router.
As an alternative, one can tunnel VNC through SSH
Secure Shell
Secure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
, avoiding the opening of additional ports and automatically traversing the NAT router. SSH also provides encryption of the connection between the VNC server and viewer.
Limitations
Unicode is not supported for VNC version 3.x and lower so it is impossible to transfer clipboard text outside the Latin-1 character set. This is not a restriction on the non-GPL software sold by RealVNC.The VNC protocol is pixel based. Although this leads to great flexibility (i.e.- any type of desktop can be displayed), it is often less efficient than solutions that have a better understanding of the underlying graphic layout like X11. Those protocols send graphic primitives or high level commands in a simpler form (i.e.- open window), whereas RFB just sends the raw pixel data.
See also
- RFB Remote Frame Buffer protocolRFB ProtocolRFB is a simple protocol for remote access to graphical user interfaces. Because it works at the framebuffer level it is applicable to all windowing systems and applications, including X11, Windows and Macintosh...
- Comparison of remote desktop software
- X Window SystemX Window SystemThe X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
- The NHS in Walsall prescribes RealVNC for remote care of IT systems
External links
- RealVNC - Official site