Linux HOWTO #2: Access your desktop remotely using VNC/SSH

LINUX HOWTO 2nd installment (Errata: see below)

This is the second installment in a new series called Linux HOWTOS. Every week I will post a video explaining how to accomplish something using a GNU/Linux operating system. Please write requests for installments in the comments!

Have you ever wished you could access your desktop from another computer over the internet? There are many proprietary programs that allow you to do this, but Linux has all the tools you need to accomplish this securely, effectively, and for free. All you need is SSH (included in most Linux distros) and a VNC server. This video explains how to install and configure the software so you can access your desktop from anywhere, even on a windows PC (use PUTTY: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/ and TightVNC http://www.tightvnc.com )

If you have any questions, please ask in the comment field, and I or someone else will do our best to answer. Please avoid 'RTFM'-style answers. They are not welcome. Also please post corrections if I mistakenly give some wrong information.

Network configuration can be tricky and I certainly didn't have time in the video to consider different networking hardware setups. If you try VNC over SSH and have some problems, feel free to leave a question in the comments.

***Errata***
./vncinstall must be run as a root user:

$ pwd
/usr/src/tightvnc-1.3.9/vnc_unixsrc
$ su root
Password: *******
# ./vncinstall /usr/local/bin /usr/local/man
************

There was a request to see a list of the commands used in this video, so here they are:

(install vnc)
cd /usr/src/tightvnc-1.3.9
tar -xjf *bz2
cd vnc*
xmkmf
make World
cd Xvnc
./configure
make
cd ..
su
./vncinstall /usr/local/bin /usr/local/man
vncpasswd

(start ssh)
service sshd start (may be different on your distro)
exit
ssh -L 10101:ip-or-host:590? -p port# ip-or-host
vncserver :? (same ? as previous line)

(new terminal)
vncviewer localhost::10101

-----------------------
This video was created using only free and open source software tools: TightVNC, pyvnc2swf, ardour2, audacity, jackd, LAME, mjpegtools, and ffmpeg.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• GNU
• Linux
• Unix
• Open
• Source
• free
• software
• ssh
• putty
• secure
• shell
• VNC
• tightvnc
• windows
• gotomypc
• remote
• desktop
• pcanywhere

[Sawta]

Might want to consider putting in a list of all of the commands that were entered, so users can reference it while doing this on their own.

[emiemi2]

I added the list in the video description on the right, hope it helps.

[C3b4Xx47]

Amigo una pregunta como cambiar el puerto por defecto de vncserver, estoy hablando del 5800 que es el de (java) yo poder cambiar el 5900 pero el 5800 no lo e podido cambiar,

sabes como cambiarlo?.....

porfavor e buscado por toda la internet

[xstarlegendz]

@CamJvideo nah... i just wanted to get peoples ips

[CamJvideo]

@xstarlegendz are you stupid>?

[xstarlegendz]

join my teamviewer:

id 627 473 864

pass: 7301

[persone107]

Nicely done, but i really wish you had a video on how to set it up on windows as well. oh well... back to the search engine.

[JOB4ACOWBOY100]

And so I don't look completely stupid I am brand new to Linux, actually never taught or knew it existed til recently, or used it til like 3 weeks ago, on a 2 hour a week. basis And am new with computers all together! I fought against technology forever and and swore I would never own a computer until I started having to use them for everything, and now here I am pursuing my degree in Computer Programming! I love computers and am learning a lot about them, but still have a long way to go!

[JOB4ACOWBOY100]

Do you do video tutoring, ha! I have been Googleing for the last 3 weeks trying to get steps to do the remote desktop using Fedora 8. Steps seem to be different for different versions and names and haven't found a match. I have a presentation to do in like 6 days, and have maybe the slightest. It sucks cause I'm using a virtual machine with the Fedora 8 cause that's all we have at the school. I have recieved no help despite several e-mails to my instructor and lab techs, and need help!

[gemini5865]

Excellent video and well explained. I regard myself as a "competant" linux user but there is always more to learn as particularly with linux there is always another way.

Greats Stuff!!!!

[adamshor]

I miss the simplicity of windows :'(