How do I get a server to start the connection?

July 21, 2009 2:43 PM

How can I make UltraVNC server create a remote connection to a listening viewer on the same LAN, automatically at startup?

I've tried using UltraVNC SC to initiate the connection from the server to the viewer, which works fine if I'm at the server PC. This would be an ideal method.

However, I don't always have keyboard/mouse access to the server PC, and I don't always know when it will be turned on, so I can't just start it up and wait a few seconds then use the viewer to make the connection.

I'm open to other, similar software if it will allow me to do the job.

I need the server PC to create the connection every time it starts up. How can I do this?

posted by Solomon to computers & internet (7 comments total)

Your intentions seem a little confusing. Why can't you run a traditional VNC server that just waits for a viewer to connect to it instead of a server-initiated connection like SC? Is the server used by someone else and you want to use the VNC connection as a way to discover when it has been turned on? If you want to turn it on remotely you may be able to use Wake On LAN and then connect to it from the viewer after it starts.
posted by contraption at 3:28 PM on July 21

Why can't you run a traditional VNC server that just waits for a viewer to connect to it instead of a server-initiated connection like SC?

Because the server computer is only turned on intermittently. I don't want to have to try to log in manually every hour just to see if the PC is active. The point behind the server initiating the connection is to avoid that.

you want to use the VNC connection as a way to discover when it has been turned on?

This. And then have it make the connection to the viewer when it is turned on.

WOL isn't appropriate in this instance.
posted by Solomon at 3:35 PM on July 21

Is there some reason it must be VNC? There are lots of ways to detect when a PC is on, or to have a PC notify another PC when it is started up. One way would be to have a service on the server PC that announces its presence via Bonjour/Zeroconf.
posted by kindall at 3:47 PM on July 21

According to the instructions here you should be able to make a script that runs at startup containing the command "[YOUR SC].exe -connect [YOUR VIEWER IP]:5500 -noregistry"
posted by contraption at 4:10 PM on July 21

Did you try that? Did it work? I'm all curious now.
posted by contraption at 11:58 AM on July 22

The problem with SC is that it's deleted automatically when the connection is closed. It'll work the first time, but not the second. :(
posted by Solomon at 12:13 PM on July 22

Oh hey, I forgot about that feature. Hmm. Well, it's not very pretty, but I suppose your script could first copy the little 200kb executable to a temp directory and then run it from there with the -connect and -noregistry options.
posted by contraption at 1:37 PM on July 22