Ubuntu Unleashed: Setup VNC Server for Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon and Hardy Heron in 3 easy steps

Setup VNC Server for Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon and Hardy Heron in 3 easy steps

Labels: Remote Administration, Remote Desktop Posted by defcon on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 12:07 AM

I just did this on Gutsy, and I thought that it might be worth sharing as a simple way to set up a persistent VNC server. If you dont know what VNC is, its similiar to Remote Desktop for wind0ze. This is accessible using regular vnc viewers, and through java-enabled browsers. That's right, you work on your computer through a browser.

1) Install packages | click here for 1 click install
sudo aptitude install x11vnc vnc-java
2) Set up password to allow clients to view
x11vnc -storepasswd
3) Open up ports 5800 and 5900 on your firewall

4) Run this command:
x11vnc -forever -usepw -httpdir /usr/share/vnc-java/ -httpport 5800

That's it!

And an optional step 5:

5) Add the command from 4) to your sessions, so that it starts at each login

If you want to test it out on a browser, type this in the URL field:

25.542.161.414:5800

Of course, replace the 25.etc. w/ your external IP address.

Addendums to this are welcome, such as how to make it more secure. I just thought it'd be nice to have a quick and dirty tutorial for getting this set up easily.

Comments (21)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

0 Vote up Vote down

· 909 weeks ago

desktop share is already installed in ubuntu by default

+1 Vote up Vote down

· 909 weeks ago

Yes Desktop sharing is enabled by default in Gutsy Gibson and it does automatically make a firewall rule. If you need to learn about portforwarding you can check out portforward.com

AskTheAdmin.Com

Thanks you have friends over @ <A HREF="http://www.askTheAdmin.com" REL="nofollow">AskTheAdmin.com!

0 Vote up Vote down

· 909 weeks ago

But i guess that solution covers the vnc access to a not initialized session. In ubuntu default way, you can connect just if a session was initialized.

+1 Vote up Vote down

· 908 weeks ago

I get an error when I try and start the VNC server (via putty):

04/11/2007 11:08:44 x11vnc version: 0.8.2 lastmod: 2006-07-12
Xlib: connection to "localhost:10.0" refused by server
Xlib: PuTTY X11 proxy: MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 data did not match

04/11/2007 11:08:45 ***************************************
04/11/2007 11:08:45 *** XOpenDisplay failed (localhost:10.0)

*** x11vnc was unable to open the X DISPLAY: "localhost:10.0", it cannot continue.
*** There may be "Xlib:" error messages above with details about the failure.

HELP!

+1 Vote up Vote down

· 906 weeks ago

how do i uninstall it??

1 reply · active 856 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Forest · 856 weeks ago

sudo apt-get remove x11vnc vnc-java i do believe

+1 Vote up Vote down

· 906 weeks ago

how do I control ubuntu 6.10 with windows xp?
it doesnt work when I type "(my name)-desktop:5800

0 Vote up Vote down

· 905 weeks ago

To all people leaving Ubuntu-specific questions here:

Head over to http://www.ubuntuforums.org, register, browse the forums! Chances are, someone has already solved the problem you are looking to solve. If you cannot find a solution somewhere, feel free to post a thread under the appropriate section.

To uninstall,
sudo aptitude remove x11vnc vnc-java

Yes, windows remote desktop (as far as I am aware) is a proprietary piece of software that is not VNC-compliant.

And finally, a security note here: Using the default ports of 5800 and 5900 is generally bad security practice. Try changing them so something higher (40,000-65,000 is a good range). Be sure you forward the correct port, if you are behind a firewall!

Good luck!

0 Vote up Vote down

· 891 weeks ago

[quote]how do i uninstall it??[/quote]

lmao.

0 Vote up Vote down

· 887 weeks ago

Just go to Add/Remove Programs and click on uninstall.

LMAO!

sudo aptitude remove x11vnc vnc-java

0 Vote up Vote down

Joel · 883 weeks ago

Nice! That was super-easy, and worked flawlessly. I'd already set up dyndns, so now I can just pop in whenever I want. Thanks for this super quick and easy VNC setup!

+2 Vote up Vote down

defcon 52p · 883 weeks ago

anytime Joel :)

0 Vote up Vote down

nowandever29 · 881 weeks ago

Thanks, found tons of tips on getting VNC working on hardy heron, none worked, but yours did!

0 Vote up Vote down

renat · 878 weeks ago

thanks, having problems with default remote control in Hardy lately, so yours helped, however can you clarify how exactly I can ad the command to start up. I am new to it, but if I add it to my .profile file it doesn't boot me X anymore.

0 Vote up Vote down

sidm · 878 weeks ago

But this is to connect to an already running session desktop:0. what if I want to run it for a fresh resumable session say localhost:2 locahost:3 etc etc

+1 Vote up Vote down

MIlorad · 869 weeks ago

i don't get it how to control my ubuntu desktop from other computer?

1 reply · active 869 weeks ago

0 Vote up Vote down

Richard · 859 weeks ago

I get my connection at my Ubuntu server running the above-described installation, but it sure is painting the screen V E R Y S L O W L Y (: Any ideas what could be causing this?
Thanks in advance.