====== Headless Ubuntu server with a thin VNC GUI ======

===== Ubuntu 22.04 =====

To install, as root, do:

<file>
# apt-get update
# apt-get dist-upgrade
# apt-get install --no-install-recommends xfce4 tightvncserver xfce4-terminal xfonts-base xubuntu-icon-theme

</file>

To run with default resolution:

''tightvncserver''

To run with a specific resolution:

''tightvncserver -geometry 1800x950''

**Set a strong password. **

As of Ubuntu 22.04, the default setup actually looks complete, so you should be good now. When done, kill it with "tightvncserver -kill :1".

===== Ubuntu 10.04 =====

As root, do:

<file>
# apt-get update
# apt-get dist-upgrade
# apt-get install --no-install-recommends xfce4 vnc4server xfce4-terminal xfonts-base xubuntu-icon-theme gksu synaptic

</file>

Run vncserver once to create the initial setup. You can connect to it now and see a pretty minimal interface – just a terminal window. Kill it with ''tightvncserver -kill :1''.

Edit ''~/.vnc/xstartup'', comment out or delete what's there, and put:
<file>
xfce4-session
vncserver -kill $DISPLAY
exit

</file>

This way the VNC session is destroyed when you log out.

To run the vnc server:

<file>
$ vncserver

</file>

You can also use X-forwarding with SSH to launch GUI apps from the command line. On Windows, first install an X client such as [[http://sourceforge.net/projects/xming/|Xming]]. Then set PuTTY to connect to the server with "X11 forwarding" enabled within the SSH options. For Linux clients, connect with the -X option. Either way, you'll be able to run GUI apps and have them appear on the local machine.
<file>

client$ ssh -X server
server$ xfce4-terminal &
(it appears!)

</file>

===== Ubuntu 9.04 =====

Install Ubuntu. I used 9.04. Then, as root, do:

<file>
# apt-get update
# apt-get dist-upgrade
# apt-get install --no-install-recommends xfce4 vnc4server xfce4-terminal xfce4-icon-theme gksu synaptic

</file>

Edit ''~/.vnc/xstartup'', comment out or delete what's there, and put:
<file>
xfce4-session
vncserver -kill $DISPLAY
exit

</file>

This way the VNC session is destroyed when you log out.

To run the vnc server:

<file>
$ vncserver

</file>