Getting kicked off of VNC connection when logging into server

Question

Getting kicked off of VNC connection when logging into server

We have noticed that when we log into the VNC server, and sign into the console of the server, that we get kicked off of the VNC connection. If we wait a few seconds then connect again we get the desktop of the server.

What is causing this? I use JollysFastVNC 0.98.50 (928701) and a coworker of mine uses ChickenoftheVNC, both are on Macs. It is very annoying. I do like that when I'm done and I log off of the console that it also logs me out of the VNC connection. But kicking me out for logging in is absurd.

Thanks,
Ben

PS. The server is Mac OS X 10.6.1 on a Mac Mini last generation, since they just came out with a new one.

MacBook Pro/2.5GHz, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Oct 22, 2009 11:39 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 22, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Benjamin Derry

Hi

Have you tried not using either of those applications and simply keying in vnc://ipaddressofserver from the Connect to Server menu instead?

Tony

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Answer 2

Oct 25, 2009 5:11 PM in response to Benjamin Derry

FWIW: I'm getting the exact same symptoms when using TightVNC from a Windows system to my new Snow Leopard Server 10.6.1 running on the new Mac Mini Server. When connecting using a vnc://server.mydomain.blah from my Macbook, all I get is a black screen after authentication.

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Answer 3

ridogi

Level 1

25 points

Oct 26, 2009 9:13 PM in response to 92656iPhone

Can you VNC to other machines at that location? Are you connecting locally or over VPN?

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Answer 4

Oct 26, 2009 9:56 PM in response to ridogi

I am on a local network, I don't have any other systems to VNC to.

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Answer 5

ridogi

Level 1

25 points

Oct 26, 2009 10:10 PM in response to 92656iPhone

Have you reinstalled the ARD client software?

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/7563/apple-remote-desktop-client

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Answer 6

Oct 27, 2009 7:51 AM in response to ridogi

Well, here's the thing: As far as I know, ARD is not free and it didn't come with my Mac Mini server. Based on what I have read about ARD it seems to be way better than VNC, but it's also pretty expensive when I just want ONE user license... Seems Apple only sells bundles of 10.

I did download the package you link to, but I'm pretty sure it's just an update to the "real" ARD client. Either way, installing the package you link to doesn't give me the ARD client.

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Answer 7

ridogi

Level 1

25 points

Oct 27, 2009 3:49 PM in response to 92656iPhone

I linked to the free client. That is what runs on the computer that you you turn on in System Preferences --> Sharing, so you are going to want to install that on the server, not the machine you are connecting from. If you installed it on both it doesn't matter—it was there anyway as part of the OS. It is built into the OS, but a reinstall can fix problems and makes sure you have the latest version. The ARD application is what you would use to connect with from the machine you are sitting in front of. That is what costs money. Apple calling the software "client" can be confusing.

Have you turned on the VNC option under either Screen Sharing or Remote Management. You will need that to connect with a third party VNC app like JollysFastVNC or Tight. If you don't turn that on then the built in Screen Sharing app should just work (accessible from Safari or the Connect to Server dialog in finder by typing vnc://ipofserver)

It is hard to say if this is a SL bug, or a problem on your network since you only have one machine to test. You could try running Vine Server on your server. You will want to change it's port to something else like 5901, or at least turn off Screen Sharing so it doesn't conflict ports. If you change the port you would connect by typing vnc://ipofserver:5901

In Vine be sure to use System Server (under Server menu) to keep vine running all the time, even after a reboot.

Vine:
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11283/vine-server-%26-viewer

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