VNC viewer is connected but blank screen

I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a
blank screen with mouse working.

I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
localhost from the Linux server itself.

When I run the server I get the following log:

4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd.
24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge.
24/03/08 13:32:12 All Rights Reserved.
24/03/08 13:32:12 See http://www.realvnc.com for information on VNC
24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3
24/03/08 13:32:12 Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901

When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional
message is received:

24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0
24/03/08 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3
24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
encoding type -239
24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
encoding type -223
24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0

I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
have any idea what would be the cause?

Thanks...

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:

> I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem. After
> switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a blank
> screen with mouse working.
>
> I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
> via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
> localhost from the Linux server itself.
>
> When I run the server I get the following log:
>
> 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
> 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12 See http://www.realvnc.com for
> information on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
> 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12
> Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
>
> When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional message
> is received:
>
> 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08 13:32:53
> Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> encoding type -239
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> encoding type -223
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
> I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
> have any idea what would be the cause?
>
> Thanks...

sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to run
xfce. Do you have:

/usr/bin/xfce4-session
in your xstartup and does
ps -aef | grep xfce
show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?

jack

On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700 (PDT), Salih <Salih.ML@gmail.com>
wrote:

>I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
>After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a
>blank screen with mouse working.
>
>I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
>via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
>localhost from the Linux server itself.
>
>When I run the server I get the following log:
>
>4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
>24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd.
>24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge.
>24/03/08 13:32:12 All Rights Reserved.
>24/03/08 13:32:12 See http://www.realvnc.com for information on VNC
>24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
>24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3
>24/03/08 13:32:12 Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
>
>When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional
>message is received:
>
>24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0
>24/03/08 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3
>24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
>24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
>24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
>24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
>encoding type -239
>24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
>encoding type -223
>24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
>I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
>have any idea what would be the cause?
>
>Thanks...

VNC is only going to show what's on the screen of the remote machine.
What is that remote screen displaying?
--
buck

On Mar 24, 1:35 pm, Salih <Salih...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
> After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a
> blank screen with mouse working.
[snip]
> 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)

You have now created a screen called 'cellular:1'.

> 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0
> 24/03/08 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> encoding type -239
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> encoding type -223
> 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0

Looks good, you're now connected to the screen 'cellular:1'.

> I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
> have any idea what would be the cause?

The screen is blank because no programs are running that might put
output on that screen. You need to run some program, like a window
manager or an terminal.

DS

On Mar 25, 6:38 pm, David Schwartz <dav...@webmaster.com> wrote:
> On Mar 24, 1:35 pm, Salih <Salih...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
> > After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a
> > blank screen with mouse working.
> [snip]
> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
>
> You have now created a screen called 'cellular:1'.
>
> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0
> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> > encoding type -239
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> > encoding type -223
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
> Looks good, you're now connected to the screen 'cellular:1'.
>
> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
> > have any idea what would be the cause?
>
> The screen is blank because no programs are running that might put
> output on that screen. You need to run some program, like a window
> manager or an terminal.
>
> DS
David, how do I run the programs. Does that mean that my x-session is
not starting properly? With KDE only configuration, all I had to do
was to run vncserver and it was running the window manager itself.

Looks like the problem is not connection but x-session not running.
Even though at many sites switching from kde to xfce is said to be
easy, going back and forth gives many problems.

On Mar 24, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
wrote:
> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:
> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem. After
> > switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a blank
> > screen with mouse working.
>
> > I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
> > via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
> > localhost from the Linux server itself.
>
> > When I run the server I get the following log:
>
> > 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> > Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> > All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12 Seehttp://www.realvnc.comfor
> > information on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12
> > Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
>
> > When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional message
> > is received:
>
> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08 13:32:53
> > Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> > encoding type -239
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> > encoding type -223
> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
> > have any idea what would be the cause?
>
> > Thanks...
>
> sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to run
> xfce. Do you have:
>
> /usr/bin/xfce4-session
> in your xstartup and does
> ps -aef | grep xfce
> show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?
>
> jack

Thank you Jack. Where is the "xstartup" file located? Do I need to
manually edit it to run the x-session?

On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:19:04 -0700, Salih wrote:

> On Mar 24, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:
>> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem. After
>> > switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a blank
>> > screen with mouse working.
>>
>> > I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
>> > via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
>> > localhost from the Linux server itself.
>>
>> > When I run the server I get the following log:
>>
>> > 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08 13:32:12
>> > Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge. 24/03/08 13:32:12
>> > All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12 Seehttp://www.realvnc.comfor
>> > information on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12
>> > Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
>>
>> > When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional message
>> > is received:
>>
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08 13:32:53
>> > Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
>> > encoding type -239
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
>> > encoding type -223
>> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>>
>> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
>> > have any idea what would be the cause?
>>
>> > Thanks...
>>
>> sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to run
>> xfce. Do you have:
>>
>> /usr/bin/xfce4-session
>> in your xstartup and does
>> ps -aef | grep xfce
>> show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?
>>
>> jack
>
> Thank you Jack. Where is the "xstartup" file located? Do I need to
> manually edit it to run the x-session?

On my Fedora install, when you start vncserver for the first time,
it creates a ~/.vnc directory with a xstartup script in it.
I changed my xstartup scrript to do:

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

/usr/bin/xfce4-session &
wait


so when vncserver starts, it starts an X session and the
xstartup script starts my xfce4-session manager.

--
D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia

see http://www.jacksnodgrass.com for my contact info.

jack - Grapevine/Richardson

On Mar 28, 4:27 am, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
wrote:
> On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:19:04 -0700, Salih wrote:
> > On Mar 24, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
> > wrote:
> >> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:
> >> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem. After
> >> > switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is a blank
> >> > screen with mouse working.
>
> >> > I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting to it
> >> > via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer to
> >> > localhost from the Linux server itself.
>
> >> > When I run the server I get the following log:
>
> >> > 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> >> > Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> >> > All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12 Seehttp://www.realvnc.comfor
> >> > information on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12 Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1)
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12
> >> > Listening for VNC connections on TCP port 5901
>
> >> > When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional message
> >> > is received:
>
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08 13:32:53
> >> > Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for client 0.0.0.0:
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b 0
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> >> > encoding type -239
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> >> > encoding type -223
> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
> >> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does anybody
> >> > have any idea what would be the cause?
>
> >> > Thanks...
>
> >> sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to run
> >> xfce. Do you have:
>
> >> /usr/bin/xfce4-session
> >> in your xstartup and does
> >> ps -aef | grep xfce
> >> show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?
>
> >> jack
>
> > Thank you Jack. Where is the "xstartup" file located? Do I need to
> > manually edit it to run the x-session?
>
> On my Fedora install, when you start vncserver for the first time,
> it creates a ~/.vnc directory with a xstartup script in it.
> I changed my xstartup scrript to do:
>
> #!/bin/sh
>
> # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
> # unset SESSION_MANAGER
> # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
>
> /usr/bin/xfce4-session &
> wait
>
> so when vncserver starts, it starts an X session and the
> xstartup script starts my xfce4-session manager.
>
> --
> D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia
>
> seehttp://www.jacksnodgrass.comfor my contact info.
>
> jack - Grapevine/Richardson

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I actually uninstalled
Xubuntu using the directions at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purekde
and re-installed the KDE desktop. Everything works now. Note that
running simply "sudo apt-get remove xubuntu-desktop" does not work. I
will follow your directions if I decide to switch to xfce.

On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:25:41 -0700, Salih wrote:

> On Mar 28, 4:27 am, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
> wrote:
>> On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:19:04 -0700, Salih wrote:
>> > On Mar 24, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
>> > wrote:
>> >> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:
>> >> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
>> >> > After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is
>> >> > a blank screen with mouse working.
>>
>> >> > I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting
>> >> > to it via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer
>> >> > to localhost from the Linux server itself.
>>
>> >> > When I run the server I get the following log:
>>
>> >> > 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08
>> >> > 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge.
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12
>> >> > Seehttp://www.realvnc.comfor information on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12
>> >> > Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1) 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version
>> >> > supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12 Listening for VNC connections on
>> >> > TCP port 5901
>>
>> >> > When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional
>> >> > message is received:
>>
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08
>> >> > 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for
>> >> > client 0.0.0.0: 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b
>> >> > 0 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring
>> >> > unknown encoding type -239
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
>> >> > encoding type -223
>> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>>
>> >> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does
>> >> > anybody have any idea what would be the cause?
>>
>> >> > Thanks...
>>
>> >> sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to
>> >> run xfce. Do you have:
>>
>> >> /usr/bin/xfce4-session
>> >> in your xstartup and does
>> >> ps -aef | grep xfce
>> >> show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?
>>
>> >> jack
>>
>> > Thank you Jack. Where is the "xstartup" file located? Do I need to
>> > manually edit it to run the x-session?
>>
>> On my Fedora install, when you start vncserver for the first time, it
>> creates a ~/.vnc directory with a xstartup script in it. I changed my
>> xstartup scrript to do:
>>
>> #!/bin/sh
>>
>> # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop: # unset
>> SESSION_MANAGER
>> # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
>>
>> /usr/bin/xfce4-session &
>> wait
>>
>> so when vncserver starts, it starts an X session and the xstartup
>> script starts my xfce4-session manager.
>>
>> --
>> D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia
>>
>> seehttp://www.jacksnodgrass.comfor my contact info.
>>
>> jack - Grapevine/Richardson
>
> Thank you for the detailed explanation. I actually uninstalled Xubuntu
> using the directions at http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purekde and
> re-installed the KDE desktop. Everything works now. Note that running
> simply "sudo apt-get remove xubuntu-desktop" does not work. I will
> follow your directions if I decide to switch to xfce.

xfce is just supposed to be a trimmed down x-windows desktop. I use
it for all my remote, vnc sessions. it's fairly responsive and functional
over the slower links.

jack

--

On Mar 28, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:25:41 -0700, Salih wrote:
> > On Mar 28, 4:27 am, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
> > wrote:
> >> On Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:19:04 -0700, Salih wrote:
> >> > On Mar 24, 4:32 pm, Jack Snodgrass <jacks_temp_id_bf2...@verizon.net>
> >> > wrote:
> >> >> On Mon, 24 Mar 2008 13:35:46 -0700, Salih wrote:
> >> >> > I was able to run a vncserver and connect to it without a problem.
> >> >> > After switching to xfce from kde, viewer connects but all I get is
> >> >> > a blank screen with mouse working.
>
> >> >> > I am running the server on a Kubuntu machine. I tried connecting
> >> >> > to it via TightVNC from a Windows machine as well as via vncviewer
> >> >> > to localhost from the Linux server itself.
>
> >> >> > When I run the server I get the following log:
>
> >> >> > 4/03/08 13:32:12 Xvnc version 3.3.7 - built May 24 2007 12:47:11
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 2002-2003 RealVNC Ltd. 24/03/08
> >> >> > 13:32:12 Copyright (C) 1994-2000 AT&T Laboratories Cambridge.
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:12 All Rights Reserved. 24/03/08 13:32:12
> >> >> > Seehttp://www.realvnc.comforinformation on VNC 24/03/08 13:32:12
> >> >> > Desktop name 'X' (cellular:1) 24/03/08 13:32:12 Protocol version
> >> >> > supported 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:12 Listening for VNC connections on
> >> >> > TCP port 5901
>
> >> >> > When I connect from the client using vncviewer, this additional
> >> >> > message is received:
>
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:53 Got connection from client 0.0.0.0 24/03/08
> >> >> > 13:32:53 Protocol version 3.3 24/03/08 13:32:55 Pixel format for
> >> >> > client 0.0.0.0: 24/03/08 13:32:55 8 bpp, depth 6
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 true colour: max r 3 g 3 b 3, shift r 4 g 2 b
> >> >> > 0 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring
> >> >> > unknown encoding type -239
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 rfbProcessClientNormalMessage: ignoring unknown
> >> >> > encoding type -223
> >> >> > 24/03/08 13:32:55 Using ZRLE encoding for client 0.0.0.0
>
> >> >> > I don't know how to debug it and logs do not tell much. Does
> >> >> > anybody have any idea what would be the cause?
>
> >> >> > Thanks...
>
> >> >> sounds like your not starting a xfce session manager if you want to
> >> >> run xfce. Do you have:
>
> >> >> /usr/bin/xfce4-session
> >> >> in your xstartup and does
> >> >> ps -aef | grep xfce
> >> >> show some xfce processes running after you start your vncserver?
>
> >> >> jack
>
> >> > Thank you Jack. Where is the "xstartup" file located? Do I need to
> >> > manually edit it to run the x-session?
>
> >> On my Fedora install, when you start vncserver for the first time, it
> >> creates a ~/.vnc directory with a xstartup script in it. I changed my
> >> xstartup scrript to do:
>
> >> #!/bin/sh
>
> >> # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop: # unset
> >> SESSION_MANAGER
> >> # exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
>
> >> /usr/bin/xfce4-session &
> >> wait
>
> >> so when vncserver starts, it starts an X session and the xstartup
> >> script starts my xfce4-session manager.
>
> >> --
> >> D.A.M. - Mothers Against Dyslexia
>
> >> seehttp://www.jacksnodgrass.comformy contact info.
>
> >> jack - Grapevine/Richardson
>
> > Thank you for the detailed explanation. I actually uninstalled Xubuntu
> > using the directions athttp://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/purekdeand
> > re-installed the KDE desktop. Everything works now. Note that running
> > simply "sudo apt-get remove xubuntu-desktop" does not work. I will
> > follow your directions if I decide to switch to xfce.
>
> xfce is just supposed to be a trimmed down x-windows desktop. I use
> it for all my remote, vnc sessions. it's fairly responsive and functional
> over the slower links.
>
> jack
>
> --

Thanks Jack. I installed xfce4 back and updated the xstart file as you
suggested. it works perfect.. It is definitely a neater interface, I
will use this one for remote access..