VNC Leopard client not connecting

Using 10.5.6 and command+k to try and connect to some of my linux servers that use vnc on 5901. When i click connect, it just says contacting server name... and never does anything else. I also tried the ip address, same issue. I can connect from a winblowz box to the linux server on port 5901 with no problems, so i know that the linux servers are listening on 5901. What must i do to conect from 10.5.6 to linux using vnc client on mac?

iMac 24", Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 29, 2009 4:59 PM

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6 replies

Apr 29, 2009 5:28 PM in response to Camelot

I'm not sure if I agree with the statement "The Finder won't connect to a VNC server.". I'm running OSXvnc server on a G4 with Tiger 10.4.11 and I can connect to it with Finder / Screen Sharing from my Leopard machine. I do get a warning each time that it is vnc server without a secure connection, and it is listening on a non-standard port (23), but it defintely works.

I haven't tried to connect to other VNC servers from Leopard so I'm not sure if it being a Mac server or a non-standard port is part of why this works for me.

Apr 29, 2009 6:21 PM in response to f0rgiven

While Mac OS X Leopard includes a built-in VNC client (as well as a built-in VNC server), they do not always play nicely with everyone else's VNC server/client. However, they play VERY NICE with other Macs running the build-in VNC client and server.

Mac OS X Leopard's client and server do seem to be very sensitive to communicating with other VNC software that is not working with Millions of Colors (24 bit color).

I would actually suggest using a 3rd party VNC client on your Mac.

First: JollysFastVNC - Very good and frequently updated. I like it.
<http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/33113>

Second: Chicken of the VNC. I use this as well.
<http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14099>

Those 2 are the top choices. There is also RealVNC, and you can use MacPorts.org or Fink.sf.net to install an X11 version of TightVNC (I use TightVNC at work connecting to a RedHat Linux box - gives me F9 boot time capabilities).

Depending on the situation, I use the Built-in VNC client/server when talking to there Macs, I use JollysFastVNC on my older Mac OS X Tiger system (does not have a built-in client), I use Chicken of the VNC to talk to my Mom's Mac OS X Tiger system across the internet, I use TightVNC at work connecting to Linux. For casual connections, I may use any client to connect to any other VNC server depending on my mood, and which client has the server connection information already configured and saved.

NOTE: I have also been a long time user of Vine Server (aka OSXvnc) as an alternative to the Mac OS X Leopard built-in server. I like to use Vine Server when I need to connect to one of my Macs from a non-Mac system, or if I want to use reduced color (like when communicating over a slow internet connection, and the built-in client/server doesn't like that).

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VNC Leopard client not connecting

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