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How to install ubuntu-desktop and vnc?

Posted June 5, 2015 50.4k views
Linux BasicsGetting StartedConfiguration ManagementLinux Commands

I want to install ubuntu-desktop gui to my server and connect it to via vnc. I read a lot of articles but I couldn’t make any success. I installed apt-get install ubuntu-desktop and thinvncserver but when i connect only thing i see is a grey screen. I don’t know how to deal with this and idk how to use “nano” to edit files.

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Fattur
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Fattur

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13 comments
  • sierracircle June 5, 2015
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    ubuntu desktop is a little heavy for vnc (and slow)

    I recommend this:

    sudo apt-get install gnome-panel vnc4server

    then, sftp into your home-directory, and find your .vnc directory. Inside there you will find a file named xstartup.
    Edit it with the following:

    
#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
#unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
#x-terminal-emulator -geometry 1280x930 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
x-window-manager &

export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
gnome-session --session=ubuntu -geometry 1280x930 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &

gnome-panel &
nautilus &
gnome-settings-daemon &

    save. reboot.

    start a vnc session with this (you can set the screen-size to whatever you want to fit your monitors better):

    vncserver -geometry 1280x930

    now login with your vnc client…it takes a minute for everything to load, but you should have a classic gnome interface that is much snappier than ubuntu desktop

  • hunky June 6, 2015
    Reply Report
    How To Install and Configure VNC on Ubuntu 14.04
    by Josh Barnett
    VNC is a connection system that allows you to manage your Ubuntu server with a graphical desktop environment. With VNC, you can use your keyboard and mouse to interact with a graphical display of your remote server, making it easier to work with the server.
  • Fattur June 6, 2015
    Reply Report

    @hunky well i don’t want that tutorial because it uses xfce and i don’t want xface

  • Fattur June 6, 2015
    Reply Report

    @sierracircle Thank’s but I couldn’t find anything in /home directory. Am I looking at the wrong dir?

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3 answers
Fattur June 6, 2015

Okey I think I’ve done it by these steps. Thank’s a lot to @sierracircle .

create new user by writing these:
(vnc is username. you can choose whatever you want)

adduser vnc

enter a password

reboot

then login as new user

then write su and get root access
then install those packges

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gnome-shell && ubuntu-gnome-desktop && ubuntu-core -y
sudo apt-get install vnc4server -y

after installed these exit and be back to vnc(get rid of root rights)
start vnc server by writing 

vncserver

it should be asked for a password. Define a password. You will use it to connect your server.

go to ftp manager and connect to your files
find this file and make the changes that told at below

/etc/init/gdm.conf

comment out these by # 

#start on ((filesystem
#           and runlevel [!06]
#           and started dbus
#           and plymouth-ready)  
#     or runlevel PREVLEVEL=S)

this will prevent gnome from starting at your console

then again in file manager goto your home direction and find the folder of the newly created user. in my case it was:
/home/vnc
in that folder you must see a folder as “.vnc” inside of that there is a file named “xstartup” .
Exact path is :

/home/vnc/.vnc/xstartup

Edit it with the following changes:

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
 unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
#x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
#x-window-manager &

#export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
#unset SESSION_MANAGER
#unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
#gnome-session --session=ubuntu -geometry 1024x768 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &

metacity &
gnome-settings-daemon &
gnome-panel &

save the file and reboot your droplet
then login with newly created user (vnc) and start vncserver again with

vncserver

command. then connect to it by a vnc program. To address write your droplets ip and add vnc port. It should be like

192.168.1.1:5901
and login with your vnc password. That’s all. Happy end :)

http://i.imgur.com/5CxLVGR.png

Edit: Oh there is a little problem which is System Settings under System Tools is inaccessible

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Fattur June 6, 2015
[deleted]
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wjt1223 October 12, 2016

@Fattur Actually, I need to seperately install sudo apt-get install ubuntu-gnome-desktop

And install this: sudo apt-get install gnome-core

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