https://faq.i3wm.org/questions/Frequently asked questions and answers about the i3 window managerenCopyright i3, 2012Sun, 23 Jun 2013 19:27:55 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2072/how-do-i-get-i3-to-run-over-a-vnc-connection/I'm running Debian Wheezy on a server I intend to use as a blender rendering machine so I installed i3 (version 4.2 from Wheezy repos) and TightVNC server on it. I added 'i3 &' to the ~/.vnc/xstartup file, but it's not showing up when I connect from my main box. Sun, 23 Jun 2013 18:57:50 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2072/how-do-i-get-i3-to-run-over-a-vnc-connection/https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2072/how-do-i-get-i3-to-run-over-a-vnc-connection/?answer=2073#post-id-2073Although similar questions have been asked before on this FAQ, they didn't address what I was experienceing. So I asked this question in the IRC page and got it working with the help of friendly folks there, so I'll answer myself. **First** of all, make sure you have i3 version >= 4.5. The version included in the Debian Wheezy repos is 4.2, which will exit with an error "XKB not supported by X-server". To install on Debian Wheezy, I had to enable the backports repository by adding: [web search for how to add backports, I don't have enough 'karma' to post the deb line cause it has a http link in it] to /etc/apt/sources.list (replace 'ftp.us.debian.org' with your favorite mirror) and installing i3 version 4.5 like so: aptitude update aptitude -t wheezy-backports install i3 **Second**, make sure the ~/.vnc/xstartup file has the Xsession line commented out or removed, and "i3" or "i3 &" (without quotes) is the last line. #!/bin/sh xrdb $HOME/.Xresources xsetroot -solid grey #x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" & #x-window-manager & #Fix to make GNOME work export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1 #/etc/X11/Xsession i3 & You may also have to use the line "DISPLAY=:1 i3" instead, if you plan on running the VNC server in a different display (replace '1' with your chosen display number). **Third**, make sure you have a terminal emulator installed. I did not, and after getting i3 working over VNC, I could not open a terminal by pressing $mod+Enter. I installed rxvt, but you may have another already installed, or choose a favorite. **Fourth**, running i3 in a VNC session will create a bad config file with all the key bindings replaced with "Mod1+(null)". I just copied a local config file over but you can also copy the one from /etc/i3/config.Sun, 23 Jun 2013 19:27:55 +0000https://faq.i3wm.org/question/2072/how-do-i-get-i3-to-run-over-a-vnc-connection/?answer=2073#post-id-2073