RealVNC
Developer(s) | RealVNC Ltd. |
---|---|
Stable release | VNC Server - 7.1.0
VNC Viewer - 7.1.0 / April 19, 2023 |
Written in | C++ / Java |
Operating system | |
Platform |
|
Type | Remote administration software |
License | RealVNC: Proprietary software; VNC Open: GPL[1] |
Website | www |
RealVNC is a company that provides
History
Andy Harter and other members of the original VNC team at AT&T founded RealVNC Limited in 2002. The automotive division of RealVNC spun out as a separate company (VNC Automotive) in 2018.[2]
Platforms, editions, versions
For a desktop-to-desktop connection RealVNC runs on
devices.A Windows-only client, VNC Viewer Plus was launched in 2010, designed to interface to the embedded server on Intel AMT chipsets found on Intel vPro motherboards. RealVNC removed VNC Viewer Plus from sale on 28th February 2021.[4]
For remote access to view one computer desktop on another, RealVNC requires one of three subscriptions:
- Home – free registration and activation required
- Professional – commercial version geared towards home or small-business users, with authentication and encryption, remote printing, chat and file transfer
- Enterprise – commercial version geared towards enterprises, with enhanced authentication and encryption, remote printing, chat, file transfer, and command-line deployment
As of release 4.3 (released August 2007), separate versions of both the Personal and Enterprise editions exist for 32-bit and 64-bit systems. Release 4.6 included features such as HTTP proxy support, chat, an address book, remote printing, unicode support, and connection notification.
Users must activate each of the server versions ("Home", "Professional", "Enterprise").[5]
With the release of VNC 5.0 late December 2013, RealVNC software editions used a single binary which superseded VNC Enterprise Edition and VNC Personal Edition.[6]
In November 2016, RealVNC released the updated version of their software, now called VNC Connect (version 6.0). The new version introduces a cloud connection option using a subscription-based pricing model. Users can choose between three subscription levels; Home (free for non-commercial use), Professional and Enterprise. Home and Professional subscriptions are cloud connections only. The Enterprise subscription supports hybrid connections that include the traditional direct (peer to peer) connections and/or cloud connections.[7]
Client (VNC Viewer)
RealVNC clients using vncviewer
can run in full-screen mode; they use the F8 function-key as the default key for bringing up an options menu (which includes the option to, among other things, switch off full screen mode or to forward a Control-Alt-Delete key-sequence).
Server (VNC Server)
The server component of RealVNC allows a computer to be remotely controlled by another computer.
Connectivity
RealVNC uses the RFB protocol. RFB 6.0 defaults to TCP/UDP port 5900. When making a connection over the Internet, the user must open this port in the local firewall as well as configure port forwarding to forward TCP Port 5900 (or the customized port respectively) to the local machine address if behind a NAT Router.
As an alternative, one can tunnel VNC through
After proposing remote access interface for Weston in October 2013,
Limitations
The
References
- ^ VNC Open - RealVNC
- ^ "VNC Automotive launches as an independent company". www.realvnc.com. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2019-05-06.
- ^ "Docs | Supported platforms for VNC Connect | VNC Connect". www.realvnc.com. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
- ^ "Product End of Life (EoL) notice". RealVNC. 3 February 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Docs | How is VNC Connect licensed? | VNC Connect". www.realvnc.com. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
- ^ "What happened to VNC Enterprise Edition and VNC Personal Edition?". RealVNC Limited. Retrieved 2014-04-07.
Following the release of VNC 5.0 VNC is now a single binary which supersedes VNC Enterprise Edition and VNC Personal Edition.
- ^ "RealVNC rebrands as VNC Connect 6.0, switches to subscription-based model". BetaNews. 2016-11-02. Retrieved 2016-11-07.
- ^ "[RFC weston] remote access interface module". freedesktop.org. 2013-10-18.
- ^ "VNC Wayland Developer Preview". 2014-07-08. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
- ^ "RealVNC Wayland developer preview email". freedesktop.org. 2014-07-09.