# VNC remote desktop

***Copyright © Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.***

---

**VNC** (**Virtual Network Computing**) is a **graphical desktop sharing system** that allows you to remotely view and control the **complete desktop environment** of another computer over a network.

```{note}
Using VNC for remote connections requires both devices to be on the same local area network, and the target device must have the VNC service enabled.
```

Due to compatibility issues with the underlying **Wayland** protocol, the **Debian** system can only adopt the **Xvfb + x11vnc** solution at present.

# Install required software

Use the debug serial port or **adb shell** to enter the terminal window and enter the following command:

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y xvfb xfce4 x11vnc
sudo apt install --reinstall libdbus-1-3 dbus dbus-x11
```

- If any options appear during installation, simply press the **Enter** key.

# Set VNC password

Enter the following command in the device terminal:

```bash
# Follow the prompts to enter the password twice in a row
mkdir -p ~/.vnc
x11vnc -storepasswd
```

# Create a startup script

Enter the following command in the device terminal:

```bash
# Create Script
cat > ~/vnc_start.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Starting Reliable VNC Server ==="
pkill Xvfb
pkill x11vnc
pkill startxfce4
sleep 2
echo "1. Starting virtual display..."
Xvfb :99 -screen 0 1280x720x24 -ac &
sleep 5
echo "2. Setting display environment..."
export DISPLAY=:99
echo "3. Starting desktop environment..."
startxfce4 &
sleep 10
echo "4. Starting VNC server..."
x11vnc -display :99 -forever -shared -rfbauth ~/.vnc/passwd -rfbport 5900 -bg
sleep 3
echo "=== Verification ==="
echo "VNC Process: $(ps aux | grep x11vnc | grep -v grep | wc -l)"
echo "Port Status: $(ss -tlnp | grep 5900 | wc -l)"
echo ""
echo " VNC SERVER READY!"
echo " Connect to: $(hostname -I | awk '{print $1}'):5900"
echo " No password required"
echo " Full desktop environment available"
EOF
#Modify permissions
chmod +x ~/vnc_start.sh
```

- If a login password is required, execute the following command:

x11vnc -display :99 -forever -shared -rfbauth ~/.vnc/passwd -rfbport 5900 -bg

- If no login password is required, execute the following command:

x11vnc -display :99 -forever -shared -nopw -rfbport 5900 -bg

# Switch x11 session

```bash
# Edit GDM configuration to force the use of x11
sudo nano /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf

# Uncomment the line in the file(i.e. remove the # at the beginning) to disable the Wayland protocol
WaylandEnable=false

# Restart GDM
sudo systemctl restart gdm3
```

- After **GDM** configuration forces the use of **x11**, the display connected to the device will not function properly.

# Management commands

```bash
# Start VNC
./vnc_start.sh

# Stop VNC
pkill Xvfb
pkill x11vnc

# View statusps aux | grep -E "(Xvfb|x11vnc)"
ss -tlnp | grep 5900
```

# Test connection

```bash
# Connect from another computer, enter the password as prompted to log in
# For example, vncviewer 10.66.82. *: 5900
Vncviewer<Device IP Address>: 5900
```

- After a successful connection, you will see the following remote desktop interface.

```{image} images/image_Y9cEbF348ot8tlx5w99cw1hDn3c.webp
:width: 1190px
:height: 673px
```

# Restore display

After **GDM** configuration forces the use of **x11**, the display screen connected to the device will not be able to display. To restore the display, enter the following command:

```bash
#Edit GDM configuration
sudo nano /etc/gdm3/daemon.conf

#Add comments in the file (i.e. add # at the beginning) to enable the Wayland protocol
#WaylandEnable=false

#Restart GDM
sudo systemctl restart gdm3
```

- Currently, testing has confirmed that after restoring the display, the system may exhibit an issue where the mouse pointer icon fails to load properly.