White Papers

6 Accessing Remote Desktop using VNC on Dell PowerEdge Servers and MX7000 Modular Infrastructure

1 Introduction

Remote Desktop connections are useful in provisioning, monitoring, and troubleshooting systems. Similar to

other remote desktop technologies, VNC servers and clients allow for a virtual keyboard, video, and mouse

device (KVM) connection to the host OS. VNC clients are available for a variety of desktop and mobile

platforms. This technical white paper explains how to establish a connection from VNC clients on the

Microsoft Windows, Android, and iOS platforms—the procedures discussed are generic to other platforms.

The iDRAC VNC functionality is a complement to iDRAC Virtual Console functionality integrated with the Web

GUI. VNC may offer greater usability, performance, or compatibility. For example, older versions of the Virtual

Console required ActiveX or Java support that may be unavailable in some environments and mobile clients

benefit from a customized mobile user interface (UI). Based on your system, there may be limitations on the

simultaneous use of or number of Virtual Console and/or VNC sessions.

For security, it is recommended that the connection be encrypted with compatible SSH or TLS/SSL tunnels.

With the 14th generation servers, support for VNC over SSH allows VNC to be used with iDRAC credentials,

which in turn may be integrated with an LDAP directory server that enforces strong password policies. VNC

over SSH clients are available for major platforms including iOS. On 12th and 13th generation PowerEdge

servers, a dedicated VNC password is used and may be encrypted by using a TLS tunnel on Windows and

Android.

From a mobile device, OpenManage Mobile (OMM) may be used to configure and start a remote console

session when a compatible VNC client is installed. On the 14th generation servers equipped with Quick Sync

2, the OMM enables remote console support over the Quick Sync 2 Wi-Fi interface.

The Virtual Media feature is available by using both the Virtual Console and VNC sessions. If a VNC session

is active, you can launch only the Virtual Media by using Launch Virtual Console and not the Virtual Console

Viewer, as explained in Section 6 of this technical white paper.

1.1 System requirements

The iDRAC VNC is available on the following servers:

 14

generation servers (with iDRAC 9). A 14G server is required for VNC over SSH support

 13

generation servers (iDRAC8)

 12

generation servers (iDRAC7) with firmware version 1.50.50 or later.

Note: For information about applying iDRAC7 firmware updates, see the white paper located at:

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/extras/m/white_papers/20431638

Also, an iDRAC Enterprise license must be installed. Trial licenses may be available.

Note: For information iDRAC licensing, see the PowerEdge Software Licensing white paper located at:

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/extras/m/white_papers/20440637