On 03/10/18 20:19, Chris Green wrote:
I'm thinking of using VNC to remotely access a couple of GUI applications running on my home desktop machine. Both my home desktop and the remote client machine are running xubuntu 18.04.
I don't need a full desktop so a simple GUi just giving the ability to run programs is all I need. I *may* sometimes run over slow links so good link efficiency would be helpful. ... and finally it would be nice if it could use ssh for the link.
So what would people recommend, preferably from the Ubuntu repositories for server and client?
I believe TightVnc is quite commonly used, but I haven't tried it recently. I used to use RealVNC. It think what to use really depends on what you want. There are two ways of working:
a) See exactly what someone in front of the machine will see. or b) have a new gui login to the machine, so you see a different screen to what someone in front of the machine would see.
If you want b) I think you have to install a VNC server in a particular way, so you're best to google.
I always want a), and in the past have had trouble achieving it. I now do this.
The remote machine must be logged in with a GUI showing (but there is a way round this if required).
SSH into the remote machine. Set up port forwarding on the ssh if required.
Run the vnc server "x11vnc" on the remote machine. (not installed by default, but is in the repos) Connect to the remote machine with a VNC Client. You can use vncviewer from a command line (part of realVNC package). However as I tend to vnc from my laptop, I have installed Remmina on it. Remina lets you save settings so you can start a session on a particular machine by clicking on a name that you set up earlier.
Advantage of this setup: Not running a VNC server on the remote machine unless you want it there. Very simple to setup.
Disadvantages: you have to roll-your-own port forwarding & compression.
Alternatives NoMachine TeamViewer
Vinagre used to be installed by default in Ubuntu & used to work well. Since I swapped away from straight ubuntu to various *buntus, I've failed to get it to work. https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Vinagre
Hope that helps.
Steve