1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
|
README for tkvnc, version 0.6 (July 1999)
VNC is a really nifty program from AT&T's research labs over in the Uk. Put
simply, it's a free (GPL) cross-platform PC-Anywhere/Timbuktu type package.
In other words, you install VNC servers on host machines and then you can
connect to and control these host machines using the VNC client. It's
great for tech support type people (like me!)
tkvnc was written to allow Linux (or any other Perl/Tk enabled *ix) to
have a floating pallette of host machines. Clicking on a host button opens
a new X window, displaying the client in all it's glory. This makes having
to remember the names of hosts for a command line launch a thing of the
past. And yes, the Windows client has this feature already built in. Sigh.
At this time, it is necessary to launch tkvnc from a console window...I have
not figured out how to send the password via the GUI. I'm working on it, and
I'm open to suggestions. As of the writing of this file, I'm been a Perl
programmer for about 2 weeks...
To use tkvnc, you'll need the following:
* VNC --- get it at http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc/index.html
* Perl --- You should have it already. Go to www.perl.com if you don't
* Tk --- Tk is a graphical library for Perl. You should be able to get
the latest version at http://www.perl.com/CPAN/modules/by-module/Tk/
I used this version to build and test tkvnc:
http://www.perl.com/CPAN/modules/by-module/Tk/Tk800.014.tar.gz
Download Tk*reeadme and Tk*tar.gz, where * is the latest version of Tk.
Follow the instructions in the readme for compiling and installing...it's
pretty simple and you'll then be able to use any Tk type Perl thingies.
Install the VNC package on the machines that you wish to dominate..err, I
mean control.
Once you've got all that stuff configured, copy tkvnc.pl to a location in
your PATH (I keep mine in /usr/local/bin). You should rename it to tkvnc so
that you don't have to remember the .pl at the end. Ergo, cd to the directory
where you unpacked tkvnc, su to root and type:
cp tkvnc.pl /usr/local/bin/tkvnc
In your home directory, use the editor of your choice to create a file called
.vnchosts (yes, there is a period in front of that name)
.vnchosts is a flat text file with the names and addresses of host machines
For instance:
richterpc
198.0.0.1
latshawpc
198.0.0.2
mariopc
198.0.0.3
Be careful - no extra lines or comments should be put in the file.
tkvnc sorts the machine names and builds a button pallette with the names...
so the button pallette wouldread
latshawpc
mariopc
richterpc
Clicking on the button marked latshawpc would attempt a connect to 198.0.0.2
If that's not clear, create .vnchosts so it says:
localhost
localhost
This will start it with one button. You can then use the "Add Host..." option
under the file menu to add more machines. Removing hosts can be done with the
"Delete host" button under the same menu.
start the program by typing
tkvnc
HINT: If you want to create a launcher item or menu entry, use the command
xterm -e tkvnc
This will start an xterm and then launch tkvnc --- they will be side by side
and you can use the xterm to both monitor messages to and from the host and
to enter the passwords when prompted
Click one of the buttons in the pallette to attach to a machine. If you've
configured VNC to require a password, type it when you see the Password:
prompt in the console window (that's another thing I need to fix in a future
version; being able to enter a password without using the console. Heck,
I've been a Perl programmer for a week. Cut me some slack <grin>)
FAQ
Q: I get an error message about Tk.pm missing and tkvnc won't launch
A: You need to download the Perl Tk module. See instructions towards
the beginning of this file.
Q: I get errors about an odd number of elements in hash assignment. What's up?
A: Yeah, this means you didn't listen when I told you not to put any
blank lines into the .vnchosts file.
Q: The names of the machines don't show up on the buttons/I see addresses on
the buttons instead of names/there's a blank button.
A: It's that pesky .vnchosts file again. No blank lines. No comments. Hit
enter at the end of each line.
Q: Why do you make us edit .vnchosts if it's such a pain?
A: I don't anymore...to add, you can use the "Add host..." choice under
the file menu. To delete, use the (duh) "Delete Host..." option.
Q: Can I use this utility for anything else?
A: Not really. Sorry.
Contact information:
Developer/Author/Project Lead/Code Slave: Marc Richter
e-mail: marc@vitinc.com
home page: http://www.vitinc.com/~marc
tkvnc is released under the GNU General Public License. Read the included
LICENSE file for the gruesome details.
Use at your own risk/benefit. Not my problem if you fry your machine. Sorry.
|
