VNC Server on a minimal Solaris 10 Server

April 11, 2014 admin

I generally prefer installing server with a very minimal footprint and just add what is necessary. Think small templates etc..

Solaris 10 can be a bit difficult to add software. More modern package management systems like IPS or APT / YUM in the Linux world makes this much easier.

Here is what I had to do to get vncserver running after a very minimal Solaris 10 install. Out of scope is getting a CD with software mounted. MY CD was mounted under /mnt so the packages were located in /mnt/Solaris_10/Product.

VNC Server and dependencies

# pkgadd -d . SUNWxvnc SUNWxwfnt SUNWxorg-xkb SUNWxwplt SUNWxorg-clientlibs SUNWxorg-server

xauth required for vncserver binary

# pkgadd -d . SUNWxwplt SUNWxwice SUNWxwrtl SUNWxwplr

Will need twm for at least a minimal window manager for a xterm. Gives twm in /usr/openwin/bin

# pkgadd -d . SUNWxwopt

Will need the path for xauth and twm to fire.

# grep PATH .profile
export PATH=/usr/bin:/usr/sbin
PATH=$PATH:/usr/X11/bin:/usr/openwin/bin
export PATH

For reference here is where vnc pulls xterm.

# cat .vnc/xstartup
#!/bin/sh

[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
#xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
xterm -geometry 120x34+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
twm &