

When VNC is first set up, it launches a default server instance on port 5901. The startup script was created when you ran the vncserver in the previous step, but we need modify some of the commands for the Xfce desktop. These commands are located in a configuration file called xstartup in the. With these packages installed, you are now ready to configure your VNC server.įirst, we need to tell our VNC server what commands to perform when it starts up. Running vncserver completes the installation of VNC by creating default configuration files and connection information for our server to use. This is a helpful option if you want to demonstrate something to other people using your VNC server, but isn’t necessary. Users who log in with the view-only password will not be able to control the VNC instance with their mouse or keyboard.

You’ll be prompted to enter and verify a password, and also a view-only password. To complete the VNC server’s initial configuration after installation, use the vncserver command to set up a secure password. sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies tightvncserver.On your server, install the Xfce and TightVNC packages. Specifically, we will install packages for the latest Xfce desktop environment and the TightVNC package available in the official Ubuntu repository. #Step 1 - Installing the Desktop Environment and VNC Serverīy default, an Ubuntu 16.04 Droplet does not come with a graphical desktop environment or a VNC server installed, so we’ll begin by installing those. Linux users can choose from many options: vinagre, krdc, RealVNC, TightVNC, and more. Mac OS X users can use the built-in Screen Sharing program, or can use a cross-platform app like RealVNC. If you are using Windows, you could use TightVNC, RealVNC, or UltraVNC. Note that this tutorial can be completed using any size Droplet, but a VNC built on a smaller droplet may have more limits on functionality than a larger one.Ī local computer with a VNC client installed that supports VNC connections over SSH tunnels. This choice will ensure that our VNC connection will be smooth and stable even on slower internet connections.Īn Ubuntu 16.04 Droplet set up via the Ubuntu 16.04 initial server setup tutorial, which includes having a sudo non-root user.

The VNC server we will be using is TightVNC, a fast and lightweight remote control package.

In this guide, we will be setting up VNC on an Ubuntu 16.04 server and connecting to it securely through an SSH tunnel. It makes managing files, software, and settings on a remote server easier for users who are not yet comfortable with the command line. VNC, or “Virtual Network Computing”, is a connection system that allows you to use your keyboard and mouse to interact with a graphical desktop environment on a remote server.
