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--- headless_ubuntu_server_with_a_thin_gui [2009/07/29 17:55] – tkbletsc
+++ headless_ubuntu_server_with_a_thin_vnc_gui [2010/04/29 17:56] (current) – tkbletsc
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Headless Ubuntu server with a thin GUI ======
+====== Headless Ubuntu server with a thin VNC GUI ======
+===== 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 "vncserver -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:
@@ Line 10: / Line 42: @@
 Edit ''~/.vnc/xstartup'', comment out or delete what's there, and put:
 <file>
-exec xfce4-session
+xfce4-session
+vncserver -kill $DISPLAY
+exit
 </file>
+This way the VNC session is destroyed when you log out.
 To run the vnc server: