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Lion broke screen sharing, VNC?

Lion is installed fine and dandy on my iMac. However, I cannot use Screen Sharing from my laptop (not upgraded... Yet) nor can I use VNC from my PC or iPad to connect to the iMac. Everything gets a "could not connect" error with no useful information.


I have Remote Administration turned on with thiMac and could use VNC just before the Lion upgrade went in.


Any pointers/suggestions?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7)

Posted on Jul 20, 2011 12:15 PM

Reply
200 replies

Jul 21, 2011 9:02 AM in response to Geordon

Count me in on the me too bandwagon. I was using screen sharing on my MBP (Lion) to upgrade my Mac MINI to lion and after both did the ARD client upgrade, screen sharing refuses to work. Have changed the settings on both, tried remote management vs screen sharing, tried VNC, no joy. Says it's connected, but the screen sharing button doesn't even come up anymore. File sharing, great. Screen Sharing, toast.

Jul 21, 2011 10:03 AM in response to Geordon

I don't know the details, but it doesn't look like Screen Sharing in Lion is pure VNC anymore. When you connect with an Apple Screen sharing client, you should be able to log in to a virtual session. You don't control the screen anymore. It works fine for me from Snow Leopard.


If you want the old behavior, you may need to install a VNC server.

Jul 22, 2011 2:43 PM in response to etresoft

etresoft wrote:


VNC is not a standard protocol.

But what IS truth?

Not easy to define!

We both have truths!

Are yours the same as mine?


What exactly do you mean by "standard" as it pertains here?


Standards exist and apply to those who agree to adhere to them.


The group of people who use a protocol commonly referred to as VNC agree on certain functionality, and means of operation.


Apple used to operate in accordance with the expectations of this group.


They no longer do.


So, you could (and more or less did) state accurately that Screen sharing isn't VNC.

Or that screen shareing with VNC no longer works.


The point of the OP was that something changed such that Object X no longer does Task Y.


That is true.


Any way you slice it, it's a net feature loss.

Jul 22, 2011 11:30 PM in response to Ricky Yu

It is definitely broken!


Both Mac Mini and MBA had no problems Screen Sharing after Lion install. But after installing an update along with iTunes 10.4 through Software Update, it has broken Screen Sharing (virtual display).


I can share files through locating the Mac Mini through Finder on my MBA, but after a long delay connecting to Screen Sharing (after selecting the option), and then another "Connecting..." progress bar - nothing. Screen Sharing app is still running but nothing is displayed on my window. It's really odd and frustrating.


Now I decided to connect via VNC and after located the Mac Mini, and then asking me to enter the password, Screen Sharing has been "stuck" trying to connect for the last 20 mins.

Jul 23, 2011 1:04 AM in response to Geordon

I'm CERTAIN it was this Remote Desktop Client Update (v3.5) that broke Screen Sharing on Lion



http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4715


I don't have this app, but this update includes more "compatibility" with OS X Lion. Is it logical to download version 3.4 that was released in January 2011 (prior to Lion's release) and see if it work with Screen Sharing? I am adamant that Screen Sharing was working on both Lion machines PRIOR to this update with iTunes 10.4 that were released after Lion was available in the app store

Jul 23, 2011 8:19 PM in response to Reubania

Screen sharing was broken for me on 2 of my 4 macs. Then learned it won't work unless the users have a password! Gave them passwords and now is is well both via Remote Management (ran ARD 3.5.1) and Screen Sharing. File sharing was also dead for me via AFB, ok via SMB. Solved that by removing Home folders from the list of shared folders.

Jul 24, 2011 1:42 AM in response to Geordon

I had the same problem on several macs upgraded to Lion and ARD 3.5.1, impossible to take control.


I solved it on all the macs by unchecking remote management in the sharing pref pane, then checking on the screen sharing option and then rechecking on the remote management.


Of course for the couples of macs that are off site, it will have to wait until i get there..

Jul 24, 2011 1:05 PM in response to Geordon

i have not been able to get screen sharing to work at all, which has never been a problem for me. i'm registered as an authorized user on both computers, the passwords are correc (blank)t, but it keeps telling me that the username/passwords don't work. and this is after the computers have already been "connected" using the exact same passwords and user name.

Jul 24, 2011 1:31 PM in response to Reubania

Yes, I think you are right. While still running SL I installed the latest updates including the latest ARD update. Immediately afterward my iTap VNC stopped working. I had to download and install RealVNC on the iPAD to resume being able to remotely connect using VNC. This was confirmed when I updatedasecond Mac with the latest SL updates. iTap VNC ceased to connect to it as well.


At this point I went ahead with the LION upgrades LION and LION Server on my Mac mini and LION in the iMAC. ITap VNC still remains broken but I can use RealVNC to connect to both. It occasionally hangs but is largely usuable.

Lion broke screen sharing, VNC?

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