Ubuntu VNC

Yesterday, I decided that I wanted to add VNC to my Xubuntu server so that I could get a remote GUI as well as my normal SSH.

Throughout my trials and tribulations getting VNC installed, I learned one very important fact: there are 2 types of VNC. The first is one that shares your current X11 session. This is like remote desktops that tech support would use to fix problems. The second is one that spawns a new X11 session that is maintained by the vncserver.

Here is how to install the remote desktop version (from lifehacker):

1. Install packages. Code: sudo apt-get install x11vnc vnc-java
2. Set up a password for clients. Code: x11vnc -storepasswd
3. Open up ports 5800 and 5900 on your firewall
4. Run the terminal command: x11vnc -forever -usepw -httpdir /usr/share/vnc-java/ -httpport 5800 and add it for auto-starting in future sessions

Here is how to install the vncserver that spawns new sessions:

1. Install packages. Code: sudo apt-get install tightvncserver vnc-java
2. Set up a password for clients. Code: vncpasswd
3. Run the terminal command: tightvncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 24 -httpd /usr/share/vnc-java/ -httpport 5800

Now since we enabled the java client, you can connect by just opening up a java-enabled browser and going to http://:5800
However, it appears to do some weird coloring/dithering. You can also connect a full vncviewer to :5901

Warnings:

• VNC is not encrypted and should not be streamed over the internet without tunneling through a secure protocol (e.g. ssh).

Advanced Setup:

• Multi-User Setup

Drag and Drop not working:

• To fix it run the below
• sudo apt-get install libgtk2.0-0=2.20.0-0ubuntu4 libgtk2.0-bin=2.20.0-0ubuntu4 libgail18=2.20.0-0ubuntu4 libgail-common=2.20.0-0ubuntu4 gtk2-engines-pixbuf=2.20.0-0ubuntu4