TightVNC (or other windows VNC viewer) connecting to OS LION

We are having the same issue with our Lion. With the help of this thread:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1194456

We came up with a workaround:

* Use RealVNC client

- this uses the ZRLE encoding (which is what Lion VNC uses); TightVNC does not use it.

Configure RealVNC client with:

* Misc Tab

Uncheck "Shared connection (do not disconnect other viewers)

Uncheck 'Only use protocol version 3.3

* Default Tab (Load/Save Tab)

Save as default (click Save)

* Now run VNC viewer and enter the password to authenticate.

Caveats:

Screen Sharing seems to work but not remote management

Due to the new multiuser login with Lion, you'll need to log out of OS before disconnecting to VNC. If you don't log out, you can't reconnect in.

RealVNC Enterprise works if you install the Enterprise server on your Mac and use it instead of the OSX VNC. Thats why it says:

Please note that connections cannot be established using the desktop VNC Viewer to Apple Screen Sharing built-in to Mac OS X 10.7

Having to log out of OSX when leaving the computer is just stupid, as it means you cant have programs running on it while you are away from it if you want to VNC in later on.

No need to install the Enterprise version. I am using RealVNC personal Edition 4.x with the builtin Lion server and it works fine.

With regard to 'logging out of the server being stupid'; if you read the thread I posted, it suggests that you log out of the CONSOLE first before you connect via VNC due to the new multi-user function in Lion. If you log out of the Mac console, then remote in via VNC, you will get the login screen (and not just the gray screen). Wait for the blinking cursor and then type in the password to log in.

I read the thread, the OP writes:

So are you saying there is a way to do this without suspending all running programs? How can I logout of the console as opposed to the system in general?

I do have the RealVNC 4.6 personal client running on Win 7 x64 that I connect in to the Lion 10.7 builtin VNC server with. I gave you the recipe for it above. We have a Mac server farm and users can reserve time on a Mac running 10.7, so we use it a lot.

I have seen the 'crashing' on the console as you are seeing after you connect. I have experienced this too. The workaround is to reboot the Mac (unfortunately). Obvioulsy, some bugs need to be worked out. In my case, my 'test' Mac is a MBP laptop, so it was easy enough to just reboot it.

There is a difference of logging out at the Console rather than thru VNC. The console session is as if you are sitting at the screen and then logging out. Not sure why this is, but if you don't log out at the console, then your remote VNC session will not work (you will just get the gray screen)... I know it's not convenient, but this is all I have right now.

@Phunkae:

"So are you saying there is a way to do this without suspending all running programs? How can I logout of the console as opposed to the system in general?"

If you are sitting at the console, this means that you are sitting at the Screen and using the laptop keyboard. This is your console session. Now use VNC to connect in remotely. Open any apps you need, etc. Disconnect from your VNC connection. Connect back in via VNC. Your session is saved and you can continue working. If you log out via VNC, you are logging out of your remote session (not the console).

The new multi-user session that Apple has implemented is similar to Terminal Services on Windows:

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/11/03/31/mac_os_x_10_7_lion_to_introduce_mu lti_user_screen_sharing.html

This will fix your problem:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3289794

Unfortunately the procedure you describe has not solved my problem.

Connecting isnt a problem, but before I can enter any details into the multi user login screen it will freeze and become unresponsive to further keyboard input. Sometimes I can quickly type a few letters in, but it almost always freeze before I can finish typing my Mac username and password to log in.

I have tried using different encodings (e.g. ZRLE, Hextile, etc) as well as using Full/Max colors as suggested on other forums, but nothing works.

I have read that some VNC clients (those on the iPad) have been updated so that you can login with the Mac's username and password instead of the VNC password, but none of the Windows VNC clients seems to be able to do this yet.

I am using Ultra VNC and occasionally have success. If you type fast enough, you can sometimes get in. Yesterday I was able to fine. Today I am not having not as good luck. I don't think that the encoding matters here, it seems to be more how quickly you can log in.

If you're having trouble with a Windows client, I think that downgrading ARD to 3.4 might help.

Also, RealVNC Enterprise (not free) appears to have Lion support now, but the free version does not.

Are you using the OS X authentication? It says that the new version supports Lion. I'm sure you have to actually setp OS X authentication, because otherwise just logging in regularly will not work.

mariafrom_san_jose is right on! The Lion computer you're trying to connect to has to be logged off, which means the login screen is showing on the Lion computer. Only then, can you connect and type in your password to take over the screen. Basically, there is no "screen sharing" from the VNC family of products....yet.

I am using tightvnc to connect to a Lion Mac Book Pro, which is the same tightvnc i'm using from my PC to remote into other SL computers. I cannot type in my password unless the Lion computer is logged off. If the login screen is on the Lion computer, tightvnc will let me type in the password and take over the screen.

Now, all I have to do is to wait for a product that will allow me to "share" the screen with a Lion computer from a PC.