RealVNC

RealVNC is a United Kingdom-based software company that develops remote access and remote administration technology. Its products are built around Virtual Network Computing (VNC), a system originally developed by the VNC team at AT&T. The technology uses the Remote Framebuffer (RFB) protocol to transmit a computer's graphical display to another device and carry user input back to the host machine. In practical terms, this allows a user or support technician to operate one computer from another as though sitting in front of it. The company was established in 2002 by Andy Harter and other members of the original VNC team. RealVNC commercialized and extended the open VNC concept through software for desktop access, help-desk support, systems administration, and remote monitoring. Its best-known offering is VNC Connect, a product family consisting principally of VNC Server, installed on or associated with the computer being controlled, and VNC Viewer, used to connect from a controlling computer or mobile device. RealVNC's software has supported Windows, macOS, Linux and other Unix-like platforms, as well as Java-based environments and mobile devices including iPhone, iPad and Android products. The Viewer application is designed for interactive remote control, while the Server component provides the remote desktop endpoint. Depending on edition and deployment model, the platform has offered authentication, encryption, remote printing, file transfer, text chat, address-book functions, connection notifications, command-line deployment and support for cloud-mediated or direct connections. The product strategy changed significantly over time. Earlier releases were organized into separate Personal and Enterprise editions and supported direct connections between Viewer and Server installations. In late 2013, version 5.0 consolidated the software editions around a common binary. In November 2016, RealVNC introduced VNC Connect, adding a cloud connection option and a subscription model. The Home tier was positioned as a free option for non-commercial use, while Professional and Enterprise tiers added commercial capabilities and increasingly advanced administration, authentication and security features. Enterprise deployments could support hybrid arrangements combining cloud connectivity with traditional direct or peer-to-peer connections. RealVNC has also developed specialized versions and integrations. VNC Viewer Plus, introduced in 2010 for Windows, was designed to work with embedded VNC servers associated with Intel Active Management Technology on Intel vPro motherboards. The company discontinued sales of that product in February 2021. In addition, RealVNC worked on support for emerging Linux display technologies, including a Weston remote-access interface proposal in 2013 and a Wayland developer preview in 2014. The company serves individual users, small businesses, large enterprises and IT support organizations. A typical help-desk deployment allows a technician to access a remote user's desktop, diagnose problems and provide assistance without being physically present. Enterprise use cases include administration of distributed computers, access to machines in difficult-to-reach locations and remote operation of specialized workstations. RealVNC's underlying pixel-oriented protocol provides broad compatibility with different desktop environments, although transmitting screen pixels can be less efficient than systems that understand higher-level graphical operations. In 2018, RealVNC's automotive division separated to form VNC Automotive, leaving RealVNC focused on remote access and administration software. No reliable public information in the supplied sources identifies a current parent company, owner, public listing or named current executives.

RealVNC emerged from the original Virtual Network Computing project developed by a team at AT&T. VNC introduced a broadly portable way to display and control one computer's graphical desktop from another system. Rather than depending on a particular desktop environment, the technology used the Remote Framebuffer protocol to exchange screen updates and input events between a server and a viewer. This design gave VNC considerable flexibility across operating systems and hardware. In 2002, Andy Harter and other members of the original VNC team founded RealVNC Limited. The new company developed commercial software around the VNC technology and targeted users who needed dependable remote desktop access, particularly IT departments, technical-support organizations and administrators of distributed computers. Its core architecture separated the VNC Server, which runs on the computer to be accessed, from VNC Viewer, which provides the remote control interface. RealVNC expanded support across Windows, macOS, Linux and other Unix-like platforms. It also made Viewer available through Java and on mobile platforms, including Apple's iPhone, iPod touch and iPad and devices running Android. Over successive releases, the software gained capabilities such as HTTP proxy support, chat, an address book, remote printing, Unicode support and connection notifications. Separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions were introduced for the Personal and Enterprise editions in the 4.3 release in August 2007. The company maintained several product editions as it refined its commercial model. In 2010 it launched VNC Viewer Plus, a Windows client designed to work with embedded VNC servers on Intel systems using Active Management Technology. This connected RealVNC's remote-control software with hardware-level management features available on Intel vPro motherboards. A significant packaging change arrived with release 5.0 in late December 2013. The earlier separate Personal and Enterprise binaries were superseded by a common binary, simplifying the software distribution model while retaining edition-specific capabilities. RealVNC also explored integration with newer Linux display architectures. It proposed a remote-access interface for Weston in October 2013 and published a Wayland developer preview in July 2014. In November 2016, RealVNC released version 6.0 under the VNC Connect name. VNC Connect combined VNC Server and VNC Viewer with a subscription-based cloud connection option. The Home tier provided free use for non-commercial users subject to registration and activation. Professional added commercial features such as authentication, encryption, remote printing, chat and file transfer, while Enterprise added stronger administration and deployment capabilities. Enterprise configurations could use hybrid connectivity, combining cloud connections with traditional direct connections. RealVNC's technology remained based on the RFB protocol. Direct Internet deployments could involve TCP port 5900, firewall configuration and network-address-translation port forwarding; users could also tunnel connections through Secure Shell. The pixel-based approach enabled broad desktop compatibility, but it could require more bandwidth than protocols that transmit higher-level graphical instructions. In 2018, RealVNC's automotive division became a separate company called VNC Automotive. The supplied reference material does not identify a later ownership change, public listing or current executive roster. RealVNC remains presented as an active provider of remote-access and remote-administration software.

• 2021

  VNC Viewer Plus is withdrawn from sale

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  RealVNC removes VNC Viewer Plus from sale on 28 February 2021.

• 2018

  Automotive division spins out

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  RealVNC's automotive division becomes the separate VNC Automotive company.

• 2016

  VNC Connect launches

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Version 6.0 introduces the VNC Connect brand and subscription-based cloud connectivity through Home, Professional and Enterprise tiers.

• 2014

  Wayland developer preview is published

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  RealVNC publishes a developer preview related to remote access on the Wayland display ecosystem.

• 2013

  Version 5.0 unifies the software binary

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  RealVNC replaces the separate Personal and Enterprise binaries with a common binary.

• 2010

  VNC Viewer Plus launches

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  The Windows-only VNC Viewer Plus client is introduced for use with embedded Intel AMT VNC servers on Intel vPro systems.

• 2007

  Release 4.3 adds 32-bit and 64-bit editions

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  RealVNC publishes separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions of its Personal and Enterprise editions and continues expanding platform support.

• 2002

  RealVNC is founded

  [1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Andy Harter and other members of the original VNC team establish RealVNC Limited to develop and commercialize VNC-based remote-access software.

A cross-platform remote-access and administration provider centered on the VNC/RFB protocol, serving home users, small businesses, IT support teams and enterprise deployments with direct, cloud and hybrid connectivity options.

• Remote access platform · 2016

  VNC Connect

  RealVNC's principal remote-access product family, introduced with version 6.0 in 2016. VNC Connect combines VNC Server and VNC Viewer and supports subscription-based cloud connectivity. Its Home, Professional and Enterprise tiers have been aimed respectively at non-commercial users, commercial individual or small-business use, and enterprise deployments. Enterprise configurations can combine cloud and direct connections.

• Remote-access server

  VNC Server

  The server-side component installed on or associated with the computer that will be controlled remotely. It captures the host display, exchanges screen data through the RFB protocol and receives keyboard and pointer input from an authorized VNC Viewer. Depending on the subscription and deployment, it can support authentication, encryption, file transfer, printing, chat and enterprise administration.

• Remote-access client

  VNC Viewer

  The client application used to connect to and control a computer running VNC Server. VNC Viewer has been available across desktop operating systems and selected mobile and Java platforms. It supports interactive desktop control, including full-screen operation, and has been used for remote technical support, troubleshooting and administration.

• Hardware-management remote client · 2010

  VNC Viewer Plus

  A Windows-only client launched in 2010 to work with embedded VNC servers associated with Intel Active Management Technology on Intel vPro motherboards. The product connected RealVNC's viewer experience with hardware-level remote-management capabilities. RealVNC discontinued sales of VNC Viewer Plus on 28 February 2021.

• 2021

  Withdraw VNC Viewer Plus from saleOther

  Background

  VNC Viewer Plus was a specialized Windows client tied to Intel AMT embedded VNC servers.

  Action taken

  RealVNC removed VNC Viewer Plus from sale on 28 February 2021.

  Aftermath

  The product was discontinued; the supplied sources do not state the commercial or technical reasons for the withdrawal.

  Source

• 2018

  Separate the automotive divisionStrategy

  Background

  RealVNC had an automotive division alongside its broader remote-access software business.

  Action taken

  The automotive division was spun out as a separate company, VNC Automotive.

  Aftermath

  RealVNC's identified business scope became more concentrated on remote access and administration software outside the automotive spinout.

  Source

• 2016

  Move VNC Connect toward cloud subscriptionsProduct launch

  Background

  RealVNC sought to extend its established direct-connection VNC model with easier Internet connectivity and a recurring commercial offering.

  Action taken

  The company released VNC Connect version 6.0 with cloud connections and Home, Professional and Enterprise subscription levels.

  Aftermath

  VNC Connect became the main branded product family, supporting cloud-only Home and Professional use and hybrid cloud or direct connectivity for Enterprise customers.

  Source

• 2013

  Unify Personal and Enterprise software binariesStrategy

  Background

  Earlier RealVNC releases distributed separate Personal and Enterprise editions, creating a more fragmented software packaging model.

  Action taken

  With release 5.0, RealVNC moved to a common binary that superseded the separate Personal and Enterprise binaries.

  Aftermath

  The change simplified the product distribution structure while leaving edition-specific functionality and licensing in place.

  Source

• 2021

  RealVNC removes VNC Viewer Plus from sale[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  RealVNC discontinued sales of the Windows-only VNC Viewer Plus product on 28 February 2021.

• 2018

  RealVNC separates its automotive division[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The company's automotive division spun out as a separate company named VNC Automotive.

• 2016

  RealVNC introduces VNC Connect[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  RealVNC released version 6.0 under the VNC Connect name, adding cloud connectivity and subscription tiers for Home, Professional and Enterprise users.

• 2013

  RealVNC consolidates software editions around a common binary[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  Release 5.0 replaced the earlier separate Personal and Enterprise binaries with a unified software binary.

• 2013

  RealVNC proposes remote access support for Weston[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The company proposed a remote-access interface for Weston, a reference compositor associated with the developing Wayland graphics ecosystem.

• 2010

  RealVNC releases VNC Viewer Plus for Intel AMT systems[1]RealVNCen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  RealVNC introduced a Windows-only VNC Viewer Plus client intended to interface with embedded servers using Intel Active Management Technology on Intel vPro motherboards.

1. 1RealVNCen.wikipedia.org
2. 2RealVNC official websiterealvnc.com