I just started subscribing to the web-hosting service with ServerPronto. My server is running on Ubuntu 8.1. Since I am a visual person, it is a lot easier for me to use GUI interface than the command line. VNC offers a remote control, similar to Remote Desktop (Apple and Microsoft) solutions. Below are the steps I used to get it working, using my Mac to control the Ubuntu box.
For background information, read the following link:
http://imthi.com/blog/linux/ubuntu-904-remote-desktop-using-vncserver-without-monitor.php
1st, install needed base packages:
apt-get update; apt-get dist-upgrade; apt-get install x-window-system-core; dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg; apt-get install libtiff-tools; deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial main; apt-get update; apt-get install opera; apt-get install gtk2-engines-ubuntulooks; apt-get install alien; alien gtk-chtheme-0.3.1-1.i386.rpm; dpkg -i gtk-chtheme_0.3.1-2_i386.deb; gtk-chtheme; apt-get install kicker-applets; apt-get install gnome; apt-get install ubuntu-desktop; apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree; apt-get install sun-java5-plugin; apt-get install openssh-server;
2nd, install ubuntu desktop
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=459159
% sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop #this is for gnome (sudo aptitude install ubuntu-desktop)
% sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop #this is for kde (sudo aptitude install kubuntu-desktop)
% sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop #this is for xfce (sudo aptitude install xubuntu-desktop)
3rd, install VNCServer
% apt-get vnc4server xinetd; apt-get vncviewer
the /etc/xinetd.d/Xvnc file need to be updated to
{
type = UNLISTED
disable = no
socket_type = stream
protocol = tcp
wait = yes
user = root
server = /usr/bin/Xvnc
server_args = -inetd :1 -query localhost -geometry 1024×768 -depth 16 -once -fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc/ -DisconnectClients=0 -NeverShared passwordFile=/root/.vncpasswd
port = 5901
}
4th, unlock /tmp directory
% chmod 1777 /tmp
5th, restart xinet.d
% vi /etc/gdm/gdm.conf (update and allow xdmp to true –> AllowRoot=true)
% sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd stop
% sudo killall Xvnc
% sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd start
%startx
6th, ssh to the server
from mac (ssh username@remote_servers_ip -L 9999:localhost_server:5902)
7th, start vncserver
ubuntu server % vncserver
8th, use chicken of VNC to start the VNC client locally
open it: 127.0.0.1:9999 (password of the user)
9th, optionally, disable GDM on KVM through system/services
This will cause GDM to not automatically start on the console (KVM)
For running SSH in the background, see below
http://www.kernelhardware.org/how-to-vncserver-secure-connections/
for running ssh in background (allowing the console to do other things)
ssh -f -L 9999:127.0.0.1:5902 root@190.120.226.69 sleep 30
Below are screen shots of System -> Administration -> Login Window
Tags: mac to ubuntu, remote access, ssh, Ubuntu, VNC