Hi,
this guide will teach you how to setup VNC remote desktop on basic Ubuntu linux VPS (using SSH command line access only), if you have CentOS/Fedora Linux, try Gnome Desktop or Fluxbox instead.
LXDE basic graphical environment:
TIP: If you DONT want to spend time installing RDP, just purchase LXDE preinstalled VPS from InstantCpanelHosting.com (for web browsing 1024MB VPS is recommended; OS template: ubuntu-10.04-minimal_10.04_i386 - Remote Desktop!)
What you can do with RDP?
- Install thousands of Linux apps (http://community.linuxmint.com/software/browse ; installation is thru command: apt-get install yourappname or using included Synaptic Package manager)
- Browse Internet thru Firefox (1024MB VPS recommended, on 512 firefox crashed, Alternate browser?)
- Run some (not all works) Windows programs using Wine emulator and more.
- You can even install Windows from within Ubuntu Desktop using VirtualBox. Do: cd /tmp;wget [.deb file from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads];sudo dpkg -i [your virtualbox .deb filename] BUT, you would probably need more than 1024MB ram and your VPS must be on KVM (maybe XEN?), not OpenVZ based server (ask hosting company)
Setting up remote desktop LXDE on VPS
1: Get your VPS with at least 256Mb ram (512MB burstable) 1024MB is highly recommended and at least 1gb disk space. Contact hosting support for help if needed.
2. Get Ubuntu linux on it (minimal distribution can fit).
3. login your VPS via SSH (credentials you will receive from your hosting provider)
4. Now add nameservers to your network configuration file. Do: vim /etc/resolv.conf
5. paste there:
do Ctrl + C
do :w
do :q
(to save changes and quit editor)
6. now remove some unnecessary software: apt-get purge apache2* bind9* samba*
7. update and upgrade packages on your VPS + install nano text editor: apt-get update; apt-get upgrade; apt-get install nano
8. Install grafical user interface and VNC so your VPS act as remote desktop. Thic can take around 270mb disk space+230mb firefox+120mb wine(Windows emulator): apt-get install xorg lxde-core tightvncserver firefox wine
(i recommend also adding words: arora gedit filezilla xarchiver to the above command, this will install lightweight browser arora, text editor gedit, ftp client filezilla and zip archiver xarchiver)
9. Create RDP password by command: tightvncserver :1
10. Stop VNC and edit configuration file: tightvncserver -kill :1;nano ~/.vnc/xstartup
11. Change this line "#x-window-manager &" TO "x-window-manager &" (remove #)
12. Paste these 2 lines at the end of the file:
Then save work and close editor: Ctrl + X , Y , Enter keylxterminal &
/usr/bin/lxsession -s LXDE &
13. Reboot VPS by command: reboot
14. Login again via SSH and start VNC server by this command: vncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16 -pixelformat rgb565
15. Download VNC client software, for example TightVNC or Official site and launch it.
16. In the server address field add your VPS IP and port 1 (we launched that one) and click Connect: xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:1
17. To Change VNC password do command: vncpasswd
After server reboot, your VNC server might not be running, to make it running on boot search google: lxde auto start on boot
this may work: in ~/.vnc/xstartup file, replace /etc/X11/Xsession with /usr/bin/startubuntu
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