Gnome on Ubuntu comes with an included “Remote Desktop” feature (vino) that allows you to VNC into your existing desktop session (usually on the :0 display). However, XFCE does not have a native VNC package built in. The best option I have found is to use vino, the same VNC app that Gnome uses. Here’s how:
Install vino:
$ sudo apt-get install vino
Configure vino:
$ vino-preferences
Then enter this command in your Autostarted Apps to start vino server:
/usr/lib/vino/vino-server
This works well for me, the only feature I have found that doesn’t work is the “disable wallpaper on remote login” setting.
Comments
Works like a charm. I’ve been trying to do this very thing with other VNC packages, but hadn’t thought to try Vino yet.
Works like a charm. I’ve been trying to do this very thing with other VNC packages, but hadn’t thought to try Vino yet. BTW, I’m running this in 8.04.
I think these options are great…for now, but I am so sick of having to write code when using Ubuntu. I understand it is an OS aimed at people like us who do code and tinker, but I wouldn’t mind seeing some more fleshed out remote desktop software solutions because I keep running into functionality roadblocks.
Hi,
I have an issue. I’m running vino-preferences as sudo and the remote desktop preferences is locked. I can’t edit any of the vino preferences. Can you help me?
Thanks
You have to disable any running server before editing that file, even as root, or it can’t save the changes. then save, restart and you are good. (You can always logout then login … no need to reboot)
Thanks for this entry! I was looking for a way to re-enable VNC/remote desktop access since changing over to xfce. This works even on an older sparc build of Ubuntu 7.10