XServe - SSH access, but no GUI, how can I get in?! * Anyone ?? *

[James Bond]

Here's my dillema - I'm able to connect via SSH to this server, but I have no way of connecting to a GUI. VNC apparently isn't running, because I can't connect, and telnetting on port 5900 times out.

With only SSH access, what is the easiest way to get a GUI going?

 

[Nothinman]

I think it is a directory because of how OS X does app bundles, or whatever they're called, and Finder does the magic of running the real binary for you.

I can't remember exactly, but isn't there a "start" command or something like that just for that?

 

[James Bond]

The command was 'open'. Derr.

Here's my dillema - I'm able to connect via SSH to this server, but I have no way of connecting to a GUI. VNC apparently isn't running, because I can't connect, and telnetting on port 5900 times out.

With only SSH access, what is the easiest way to get a GUI going?

 

[Nothinman]

Install Linux =)

I have no idea, the little bit of OS X experience I have comes from a Mac Mini and a few Macbooks at my work which I try to avoid them all as much as possible, but they obviously already had the GUI shit installed and running.

What happens if you run vncserver? Is it even a standalone daemon or did Apple somehow embed it in their GUI?

 

[Ka0t1x]

Not sure about OS X Server but.. this works afaik for 10.6 client systems.

10.5:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20080318190503111
10.6:
http://hints.macworld.com/comment.php?mode=view&cid=111315

Given that Server is just built upon OS X makes me believe it 'should' work.

Edit: You could also just see if the file is there, in the first place.

ps aux | grep VNC

should be something similar to :
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/MacOS/AppleVNCServer

 

[Emulex]

why do you need a gui? lol. thats the last thing you want on a unix server.

man bash

 

[Ka0t1x]

Managing the server settings in OS X Server is much easier via GUI than command line.

Unless you for some reason like to edit LDAP yourself, looking up each key definition.

 

[James Bond]

why do you need a gui? lol. thats the last thing you want on a unix server.

man bash

We aren't a unix shop.

 

[James Bond]

Not sure about OS X Server but.. this works afaik for 10.6 client systems.

10.5:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20080318190503111
10.6:
http://hints.macworld.com/comment.php?mode=view&cid=111315

Given that Server is just built upon OS X makes me believe it 'should' work.

Edit: You could also just see if the file is there, in the first place.

ps aux | grep VNC

should be something similar to :
/System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/AppleVNCServer.bundle/Contents/MacOS/AppleVNCServer

Thanks. A little confused though. I do see that path exists, but what am I doing?

Output from the ps gives:

username 96940 0.0 0.0 599700 368 s000 R+ 2:36PM 0:00.00 grep VNC

 

[PCTC2]

You can 'kickstart' Apple Remote Desktop which runs a VNC server.

sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -activate -configure -access -on -users [USERNAME] -privs -all -restart -agent

Replace [USERNAME] with your user short name. Then you can connect via Apple Remote Desktop ($80 in the AppStore) or you can find the plist that sets the VNC password in /Library/Preferences and then use VNC

 

[James Bond]

You can 'kickstart' Apple Remote Desktop which runs a VNC server.

sudo /System/Library/CoreServices/RemoteManagement/ARDAgent.app/Contents/Resources/kickstart -activate -configure -access -on -users [USERNAME] -privs -all -restart -agent

Replace [USERNAME] with your user short name. Then you can connect via Apple Remote Desktop ($80 in the AppStore) or you can find the plist that sets the VNC password in /Library/Preferences and then use VNC

Thanks. I ran the command and it did indeed restart the ARD services. I'm still unable to connect via VNC, though. When attempting to it just times out. Trying to telnet on 5900 or 5901 both timeout.

 

[PCTC2]

Do you have the firewall on? It's weird that it won't allow telnet into that port.
Also, just so you know, ARD won't allow plain VNC unless it's specified in preferences.

 

[James Bond]

Do you have the firewall on? It's weird that it won't allow telnet into that port.
Also, just so you know, ARD won't allow plain VNC unless it's specified in preferences.

Firewall is disabled.

And yes - I was trying to connect with regular old tight VNC (from a Win7 box). Can I edit the preferences to allow all flavors of VNC?

 

[James Bond]

bump

 

[JSt0rm]

drive your ass over there and beat it.