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VNC

VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is the standard remote desktop protocol for Linux systems. It's simple, widely supported, and works reliably across platforms.

When to Use VNC

VNC is the best choice for:

  • Linux servers and VMs
  • Cross-platform access (any client to any server)
  • Simple, reliable remote access
  • Situations where SSH tunneling is acceptable

VNC Architecture

┌──────────────────┐                    ┌──────────────────┐
│   macOS Client   │                    │   Linux Server   │
│                  │      VNC/RFB       │                  │
│  RealVNC Viewer  │◄──────────────────►│   TigerVNC       │
│  Screen Sharing  │      Port 5900     │   x11vnc         │
│  Jump Desktop    │                    │   QEMU VNC       │
└──────────────────┘                    └──────────────────┘

Topics

  • Server Setup

    Configure VNC servers on Linux systems and KVM VMs

    Server Setup

  • macOS Clients

    Client recommendations and configuration

    macOS Clients

Quick Start

Connect to a KVM VM

  1. Find your VM's VNC port: 

    virsh vncdisplay vm-name
# Output: :1 (means port 5901)

  2. Connect from macOS: 

    open vnc://server-ip:5901

Connect Securely via Tailscale

# On macOS, connect via Tailscale hostname
open vnc://server.tail-network.ts.net:5900

See Tailscale Integration for full setup.

Security Warning

Never Expose VNC to the Internet

VNC was designed for trusted networks. Always use:

  • Tailscale (recommended) - Zero-config, works everywhere
  • SSH tunnel - ssh -L 5900:localhost:5900 server
  • VPN - If already configured

Comparison with Alternatives

Feature VNC RDP SPICE
Linux support Native Via xrdp Native
Audio No Yes Yes
Encryption SSH tunnel Built-in Optional
macOS client Excellent Excellent Poor