***Please visit the new simplified installation of the Raspberry Pi VNC Mirror***
Here is an extenstion for this blog-entry you also might to read!
Raspberry Pi Logo
The idea is to show any machine (virtual or real) to public. So you can setup a computer with VNC anywhere and can put a big TV screen at another place.
We need a Raspberry Pi Model B, a network connection and a micro USB power plug (either over USB <-> micro USB plugged into your RPi or TV or seperate power device)
I have downloaded the 2012-09-18 Image of the Raspbian Image wheezy.
Follow the basic instructions of the RPi config.
Important: if you don’t have 1920×1080 resolution (Full HD) it might not work for you. I have experienced that if your remote computer has a resolution of 1280×768 the ssvncviewer exits immediately. But if you changed it to a common resoltion of 1280×720 it will work with one little dissadvantage: The screen stays black with a circle shaped cursor. You have to login from another computer on the remote machine first, so it will work. These 1280xYYY resolutions make somehow troubles.
paste these lines in your commandline (or over putty)
Ommit the lines with proxy if you have none.
Programms and settings
# start a root session sudo bash echo "exec openbox-session">/home/pi/.config/openbox/autostart.sh # proxies export http_proxy=http://proxy1.sysstem.at:8080 export https_proxy=https://proxy1.sysstem.at:8080 echo "Acquire::http::Proxy "http://proxy1.sysstem.at:8080";">>/etc/apt/apt.conf # updates apt-get update apt-get upgrade -y # install programs apt-get install x11vnc vim ssvnc unp htop -y # autostart x11vnc mkdir .config/autostart/ echo [Desktop Entry]>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Encoding=UTF-8>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Type=Application>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Name=X11VNC>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Comment=>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Exec=x11vnc -forever -shared -usepw -ultrafilexfer -display :0>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo StartupNotify=false>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Terminal=false>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop echo Hidden=false>>/home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop # remove desktop links rm /home/pi/Desktop/*.desktop
Info
If the X11VNC does not start correctly after boot try to change parameters in the x11vnc.desktop file
sudo vim /home/pi/.config/autostart/x11vnc.desktop
Time settings
# set timezone and select your city sudo dpkg-reconfigure tzdata #reconfigure ntp sudo dpkg-reconfigure ntp # set timeserver sudo vim /etc/ntp.conf server ntp.sysstem.at iburst #stop ntp daemon sudo /etc/init.d/ntp stop #set time sudo ntpdate ntp.sysstem.at #start ntp sudo /etc/init.d/ntp start
Monitor preferences
sudo vim /boot/config.txt
search and edit the following
# remove black borders on screen. set to 0 if problem occour disable_overscan=1 # pretend hdmi is plugged in and hdmi resolution will work hdmi_force_hotplug=1 #Force console size framebuffer_width=1920 framebuffer_height=1080 # set resolution to 1920x1080@60Hz # hdmi_mode=4 for 1280x720@60Hz #check website for more modes #http://elinux.org/RPi_config.txt hdmi_group=1 hdmi_mode=16 # remove 1 of 2 desktops (we only need 1) vim /home/pi/.config/openbox/lxde-rc.xml # at desktops: <number>1</number>
X11VNC settings
# define a password for your x11vnc x11vnc -storepasswd /home/pi/.vnc/passwd
Upload a new desktop wallpaper, most likely the logo of your company
Change background by rightclicking on your desktop and choose a new picture
VNC client – autostart script
sudo vim /home/pi/.config/autostart/vncview.sh
paste the following:
# Process check script: The script simply checks if a process is running and if it is not found to be running it will execute it. # The script loops in preset intervals, hence it is possible to monitor a process continuously. # Variables Running=1 SleepInterval=60 ProcessInstances=`sudo ps aux | grep [s]svncviewer | wc -l` #VNC Variables vnc=ssvncviewer host=WSTERMNL01 display=0 resolution=1920x1080 passfile=/home/pi/.vnc/passwd2 para="-display :$display -viewonly -fullscreen -shared -passwd $passfile -scale $resolution -encodings zywrle" # Logic while [ $Running -gt 0 ] do if [ `sudo ps aux | grep [s]svncviewer | wc -l` -gt 0 ]; then echo Process already running! Nothing to do. else echo Process not running! Starting process # This is the command that should start the process in question $vnc $host $para & fi # How often shall we repeat the check? echo Sleeping for $SleepInterval seconds sleep $SleepInterval done exit 0
Service for VNC Client script
sudo vim /etc/init.d/vncviewd
paste the following
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: vncviewd
# Required-Start: $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop: $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
# Short-Description: Start VNC Viewer Daemon.
# Description: Start VNC Viewer at boot time.
### END INIT INFO
#! /bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/vncviewd
# If you want a command to always run, put it here
# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system
case "$1" in
start)
echo "Starting vncviewd"
# run application you want to start
su pi /home/pi/.config/autostart/vncview.sh
exit 0
;;
stop)
echo "Stopping vncviewd"
# kill application you want to stop
pkill -f vncview.sh
exit 0
;;
*)
echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/vncviewd {start|stop}"
exit 1
;;
esac
exit 0
register vncviewd for autostart
sudo update-rc.d vncviewd
Monitor script
sudo vim /etc/init.d/monitor
paste the following
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: monitor
# Required-Start: $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop: $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
# Short-Description: Start or stop Monitor
# Description: Start or stop Monitor
### END INIT INFO
#! /bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/monitor
# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system
case "$1" in
start)
echo "Starting monitor"
# Enable HDMI with preferred mode
/opt/vc/bin/tvservice -p
# Change console to enable monitor output
# not very nice
sudo chvt 6
sudo chvt 7
;;
stop)
echo "Stopping monitor"
/opt/vc/bin/tvservice -o
;;
*)
echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/monitor {start|stop}"
exit 1
;;
esac
exit 0
register for autostart
sudo update-rc.d monitor
Disable sleep mode for monitor
sudo vim /etc/kbd/config
# DO NOT changes this line. VNC needs to blank the console for fullscreen mode BLANK_TIME=30 (Was 30) # Powerdown time. The console will go to DPMS Off mode POWERDOWN_TIME # minutes _after_ blanking. (POWERDOWN_TIME + BLANK_TIME after the last input) # change this line (original was 30) POWERDOWN_TIME=0
restart KBD
sudo /etc/init.d/kbd restart
Set a time schedule for your monitor. This reduces energy consumption.
Monitor only runs form 6 am to 6 pm (06:00-18:00)
sudo vim /etc/crontab
paste the following
# /etc/crontab: system-wide crontab # Unlike any other crontab you don't have to run the `crontab' # command to install the new version when you edit this file # and files in /etc/cron.d. These files also have username fields, # that none of the other crontabs do. SHELL=/bin/sh PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin # m h dom mon dow user command 17 * * * * root cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.hourly 25 6 * * * root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.daily ) 47 6 * * 7 root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.weekly ) 52 6 1 * * root test -x /usr/sbin/anacron || ( cd / && run-parts --report /etc/cron.monthly ) 0 6 * * 1-5 root /etc/init.d/monitor start 0 18 * * 1-5 root /etc/init.d/monitor stop #
Delete your history
history -c
Test your configuration and make a backup of your SD card. It is always good to have one 😉
The only thing left what i wanted to do was to add a custom loading screen while booting.
Maybe you can get it working by using plymouth or other programs. If so please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment.
Here is an extenstion for this blog-entry you also might to read!
*Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation
