Linux Help: Ubuntu Hardy VNC?

[Zenax]

Hi,

I have a slight problem. I have recently managed to set up an old desktop to run Linux Distro Ubuntu Hardy Heron. I installed samba, and now I can see the drives in Vista, which is all fine and dandy.

Now I have a new problem. I want to be able to use VNC clients to access the linux server to be able to run maintenance etc. I can connect to the system using SSH and I can get a Terminal in windows. I would however prefer a GUI for linux within windows.

If anyone would be kind enough to give me some detailed steps on how to set this up successfully I would be grateful!

Peace,
Zenax

 

[Smith6612]

Have you looked into TightVNC? That's some open source VNC software, and I'm pretty sure there is an automatic installer someplace for it. If not, a simple sudo -get command might do the trick. You'll need to see the TightVNC site though for info on that.

If you already installed VNC software, you should make sure that you are port forwarding the needed ports for VNC to the public internet if you have a router or a modem that has NAT capabilities. The VNC software will list the ports needed to port forward in the setup of the software.

 

[Zenax]

I already have tightvncserver installed on the linux machine.

a simple sudo apt-get install tightcnvserver got that done for me.

The thing I cannot get my head around is that the clients I use show me something that is more likely to be used as a windows interface.

Also the screen is grey, with just a command console on it. I want direct visual screen access so I can see linux's GUI.

I have tried all sorts of software.

Heres a screenshot:



im getting annoyed with it lol

 

[Smith6612]

That seems to be a well known issue with VNC software on Linux. I've hit it myself a few times. Here's the next question. Are you running KDE or GNOME? Here's what you should try doing.

At the "~/.vnc/xstartup" path to TightVNC's startup file, at the last line in the startup file, there should be something such as "x-window-manager &" filled into the value. If there is, replace it with the following code.

For GNOME, type in "gnome-session &" without the quotation marks.
For KDE, type in "startkde &" without the quotes.

Try this and see if this works. Don't forget to shut down the TightVNC server before you do this, and restart it afterwards when you save the file. This is working off of a problem I had to fix one time with Kubuntu, so this might not work, yet again, it just might.

EDIT: The ~/ is referring to /home/youruserdirectory/

If this doesn't help, try visiting this site. http://www.linuxtopia.org/HowToGuides/VNC_setup_Linux_Windows.html

 

[Zenax]

I have solved the problem. All I had to do was to change the session format in the Remote Desktop option that belonged to Ubuntu Linux. I changed it voer to Gnome. Then I ran the VNC viewer and got the desktop. Obviously there are some changes to make to the system but it works fine now.

I thank you for the help, you have been most useful!

Zenax

 

[Smith6612]

You're welcome!