1. On all your Windows machines download and install VNC free edition. Download from
http://www.realvnc.com/cgi-bin/download.cgi . Installation is self guided. This package
includes both server and viewer. Size is about 720 K. (filename is vnc-4_1_2-
x86_win32.exe)
2. On all your Ubuntu Linux machines open System > Administration > Synaptic Package
Manager. Search for VNC. Make sure that “vino,” “vnc-common,” and “xvncviewer” are
already installed. If not, install the missing ones.
3. Test VNC from Windows: Run VNC viewer from your Windows machine. You should
be able to select any Linux or Windows box by hostname and connect to it; that is, if
these boxes are running VNC server. If not, probably you have restricted remote desktop
connections. To unrestrict, right click on "My Computer" and select "Properties." Select
the remote tab. Enable remote desktop connections.
4. Test VNC from Linux: Run VNC from your Linux machine by selecting Applications >
Internet > Terminal Server Client. Under the “'general” tab, type in the hostname of the
other machine you want to connect to, and select the VNC protocol. Then type in your
name (the name you sign in with on each of your machines). Press connect. You will be
asked for a password -- in a tiny box in the upper left corner of your screen. You need not
move your cursor to this password box. Just type your password, and the password box
somehow collects it. You should connect. If not, try removing password protection – at
least during troubleshooting -- by going to System > Preferences > Remote Desktop and
un-checking password protection.
5. Firewalls frequently are the cause of failed connections. If all the above methods fail, it is
a good idea to look at your firewall settings. Assuming you are using Windows built-in
firewall, go to "Control Panel" and select "Windows Firewall." Click on the "Exceptions"
tab. Click the "Add Port" button. Add "VNC-1" and use port 5900. Then, click "Add
Port" again and add "VNC-2" at port 5800.