How to Set Up VNC Server on Ubuntu 18.04 for Remote Desktop Access

Are you looking for a way to connect to your server from a remote location using VNC? This tutorial will guide you through the process of setting up a VNC server on your Ubuntu 18.04 system, allowing you to access your desktop remotely.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure that you have two graphic cards installed on your Ubuntu 18.04 server. Additionally, ensure that you have a VNC viewer installed on your client machine.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. First, install the TightVNC server package by running the following command: `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install tightvncserver`

2. Once the installation is complete, create a new unit file for the VNC server to start at boot time. Open the file in a text editor using the following command: `sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/vncserver.service`

3. Add the following lines to the file:

```

'Unit'

Description=Start TightVNC server at startup

'Service'

ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/vncserver -kill :1 > /dev/null 2>&1

ExecStart=/usr/bin/vncserver -depth 24 -geometry 1280x800 :1

'Install'

WantedBy=multi-user.target

```

4. Save the file and reload the Systemd daemon to apply the changes: `sudo systemctl daemon-reload`

5. Next, create a backup of the default xstartup file and modify it by adding the following lines:

```

#!/bin/bash

```

6. Start the VNC server by running the command: `vncserver`

Configuring VNC Server

To access your remote desktop using VNC, you'll need to configure your VNC server. Open a new terminal window and run the command: `ssh -L 5901:127.0.0.1:5901 -N -f -l idroot server-ip-address`

Replace `idroot` with your actual user name and `server-ip-address` with the IP address of your VNC server.

Accessing Remote Desktop

To access your remote desktop using a VNC viewer, open up a new window or tab in Terminal. You can use any VNC viewer software, such as TightVNC or RealVNC. Connect to your VNC server by entering the following command:

```

vncviewer 127.0.0.1:5901

```

You will be prompted to enter a password to access your machine remotely.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues while setting up your VNC server, refer to the official TightVNC website for additional help and useful information.

By following these steps, you should now have a VNC server set up on your Ubuntu 18.04 system, allowing you to access your desktop remotely using a VNC viewer.

Ubuntu 18.04 vnc