x11vnc
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Description:
VNC server for real X displays
Type: Formula  |  Tracked Since: Dec 28, 2025
Links: Homepage  |  formulae.brew.sh
Category: Networking
Tags: vnc remote-desktop x11 networking display
Install: brew install x11vnc
About:
X11vnc is a VNC server that allows you to share a real X11 desktop session over the network. Unlike virtual display servers, it mirrors the existing physical or virtual display, enabling remote control of active sessions. It is highly configurable, supporting various encoding methods and authentication options for secure remote access.
Key Features:
  • Mirrors existing X11 sessions in real-time
  • Supports SSL/TLS encryption for secure connections
  • Low-bandwidth encoding options like TightVNC and ZRLE
  • Flexible authentication and access control mechanisms
Use Cases:
  • Remote system administration of Linux desktops
  • Providing tech support by viewing a user's active screen
  • Accessing a persistent development environment remotely
Alternatives:
  • TigerVNC – TigerVNC is a standalone VNC suite including both server and viewer, whereas x11vnc specifically focuses on serving existing X11 displays.
  • xrdp – xrdp provides RDP access, which is often faster and more feature-rich than VNC, but requires specific client software.
Version History
Detected Version Rev Change Commit
Sep 15, 2025 11:31am 0 VERSION_BUMP ee36d150
Nov 20, 2024 12:23am 1 VERSION_BUMP 53144bfe
Nov 3, 2024 4:58pm 1 VERSION_BUMP d5b6eaa7
Nov 3, 2024 10:14am 1 VERSION_BUMP 7aec99e0