 rfb (âremote framebufferâ) is a simple protocol for remote access to graphical user interfaces. because it works at the framebuffer level it is applicable to all windowing systems and applications, including microsoft windows, mac os x and the x window system. rfb is the protocol used in virtual network computing (vnc) and its derivatives. ==description== by default, a viewer/client uses tcp port 5900 to connect to a server (or 5800 for browser access), but can also be set to use any other port. alternatively, a server can connect to a viewer in "listening mode" (by default on port 5500). one advantage of listening mode is that the server site does not have to configure its firewall/nat to allow access on the specified ports; the burden is on the viewer, which is useful if the server site has no computer expertise, while the viewer user would be expected to be more knowledgeable. although rfb started as a relatively simple protocol, it has been enhanced with additional features (such as file transfers) and more sophisticated compression and security techniques as it has developed. to maintain seamless cross-compatibility between the many different vnc client and server implementations, the clients and servers negotiate a connection using the best rfb version, and the most appropriate compression and security options that they can both support. == history == rfb was originally developed at olivetti research laboratory (orl) as a remote display technology to be used by a simple thin client with atm connectivity called a videotile. in order to keep the device as simple as possible, rfb was developed and used in preference to any of the existing remote display technologies. rfb found a second and more enduring use when vnc was developed. vnc was released as open source software and the rfb specification published on the web. since then rfb has been a free protocol which anybody can use. when orl was closed in 2002 some of the key people behind vnc and rfb formed realvnc, ltd., in order to continue development of vnc and to maintain the rfb protocol. the current rfb protocol is published on the realvnc website. ==protocol versions== published versions of the rfb protocol are as follows: {| class="wikitable" |- !version !published !date !specification |- |rfb 3.3 |orl |january 1998 |the remote framebuffer protocol 3.3 |- |rfb 3.7 |realvnc ltd |august 2003 |the remote framebuffer protocol 3.7 |- |rfb 3.8 (current) |realvnc ltd |june 2007 |the remote framebuffer protocol 3.8 |} developers are free to add additional
Application_layer_protocols Remote_desktop_protocols Virtual_Network_Computing