How to Use VNC to Access a Remote Windows Server

VNC stands for Virtual Network Computing. It is a graphical desktop sharing system that allows you to remotely control and access a computer's desktop environment over a network connection. With VNC, you can view and interact with the desktop of a remote computer from almost any location as if you were sitting in front of it.

VNC works by transmitting the graphical display of the remote computer and relaying user input from the local computer to the remote system. This enables you to control the remote computer's mouse, keyboard, and other input devices, and see the remote desktop environment in real-time on your local machine.

VNC works by transmitting the graphical display of the remote computer and relaying user input from the local computer to the remote system. This enables you to control the remote computer's mouse, keyboard, and other input devices, and see the remote desktop environment in real-time on your local machine.

Cross-Platform Remote Access: VNC allows you to access and control a remote computer from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility is valuable for individuals and businesses that need to access their computers or servers remotely, whether for work, administration, or support purposes. VNC is platform-independent, meaning it can be used to access and control computers running different operating systems, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix. This cross-platform compatibility allows you to connect to and interact with computers regardless of the operating system they are running.

Team Collaboration: VNC facilitates collaboration by allowing multiple users to connect to and view a remote desktop simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams, as it enables colleagues to work together, share ideas, and collaborate on projects in real-time.

Troubleshooting and Support: VNC is commonly used by IT support professionals to remotely troubleshoot and fix issues on users' computers. With VNC, support personnel can view the user's desktop and interact with it as if they were physically present, making it easier to diagnose and resolve technical problems.

While VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is a widely used remote desktop protocol, it also has some limitations and drawbacks.

VNC can be bandwidth-intensive, especially when transmitting graphical data. This can result in slower performance and increased latency, particularly over slower or unreliable network connections. The user experience may suffer if there is significant lag or reduced responsiveness.

VNC has had security vulnerabilities in the past, making it potentially susceptible to unauthorized access or attacks. If not properly configured, VNC can pose security risks, such as weak encryption or authentication methods. It is crucial to implement strong security measures and keep the VNC software up to date to mitigate these risks.

There are various VNC software implementations available, both open-source and commercial, that provide the necessary server and client components to establish VNC connections. Some popular VNC software includes RealVNC, TightVNC, UltraVNC, and TigerVNC.

You already get the server login credentials
Once your server is deployed, the login credentials are usually sent to your registered email. You can also get server login information, including username, password, and port in the Database Mart control panel, please refer to guide on how to manage servers in Database Mart control panel.

Log in to your Remote Windows Server. Please refer to the guide How to Connect to a Windows Server Remotely.

There are various VNC software. In this example, we will use TightVNC for demonstration. Search TightVNC server in browser. And click in to the TightVNC website.

Then, click the Get your free copy of TightVNC, followed by clicking the Installer for Windows. As the remote Windows server is 64-bit, we will choose the 64-bit version.

Once the file is downloaded, you can execute it to start the installation.

On the TightVNC Setup Wizard windows, click Next.

Check to accept the terms in the License agreement and click Next.

Choosing the Typical setup would be fine.

Here, we will keep the default options.

Finally, click Install to begin the installation process.

In this window, you are prompted to set the password for accessing the remote Windows server using VNC viewer. You can also set an administrative password for managing the VNC server.

After that, click Finish and the VNC server is installed.

Search Windows Firewall with Advanced Security and open the program.

Click the Inbound Rules on the left panel.

Locate the TightVNC. Then right-click it and click properties to view the firewall configurations.

Search for VNC viewer in the browser and click into the site. Here, we use the Real VNC as an example.

Choose Windows desktop and click Donwload VNC Viewer.

Once the file is downloaded, double-click it to start the installation. First, select the language you would like to use during the installation and click OK. Then, click Next to start the installation process.

Read the license agreement carefully and check to accept the terms, followed by clicking Next.

In the Custom Setup window, choose the feature you'd like to install and customize the location where you prefer to keep the file. Then click next to continue.

In this window, click Install to begin the VNC Viewer installation.

Search VNC Viewer from the start menu and open the program.

Input your email and password to sign in to your RealVNC account. If you haven't registered an account, clicking Cancle would be fine.

Click File > New connection at the top left corner.

After that, input the IP of your Remote Windows server and click OK.

You should see the connection is added. Right-click it and choose Connect.

After that, click Continue in the pop-up window.

Then, you will be prompted to input the password for accessing the VNC server. This is the password you set during the VNC server installation.

When you reach here, you have connected to the server successfully.

Move the mouse to the top of the screen, you can pull the tab down, where you can perform various functions, like zoom in and zoom out.

Click the send Ctrl + Alt + Del to unlock the screen. You will need to input the password for the administrator account on the remote server. With the password authentication passed, you should be logged in to your remote server as below.

By following these steps, you can harness the convenience and flexibility of VNC to connect to remote servers with ease and efficiency. Remember to prioritize security by implementing encryption, strong passwords, and limiting remote access to authorized users. While VNC can be a powerful tool for remote server management, it's crucial to stay vigilant and keep the software up to date to address any potential security vulnerabilities.