How To Configure Remote Access To Your Ubuntu Desktop - Page 3

4 Connecting From An Ubuntu Client

On an Ubuntu client, we don't have to install any software to connect to the remote desktop - it's all there. We can simply use the remmina command from chapter two. Open "Search your computer" and type in "remmina":

Click on the Remmina Remote Desktop Client icon to start the application.

Select 'VNC' as protocol and enter the IP address or hostname of the desktop PC that you like to connect to.

A window opens where you must type in the password for the remote desktop:

Afterwards, the remote Ubuntu desktop opens in a new window:

To stop the connection, simply close the window.

5 Links

Ubuntu: http://www.ubuntu.com
Virtual Network Computing (Wikipedia): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VNC

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By: Vladimir

This description is nice but what about iptables? How do I configure iptables to accept connection from local network?

By: Paul

iptables -I INPUT -s xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/mmm.mmm.mmm.mmm -p tcp --dport 5900 -j ACCEPT

Where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx - your local network (Example: 192.168.0.0) you can get this by reading

your routing table:

Win: Start -> Run -> cmd ->OK -> route print (in the black command propt window that opens )

Linux : /sbin/route -n (in a terminal console) Look for the row that starts like your IP address

mmm.mmm.mmm.mmm - your netmask (Example: 255.255.255.0)

By: Anonymous

Falko,

Nice job on this tutorial. You answered 98% of my questions and I have successfully viewed my Ubuntu 9.04 desktop from my Netbook using XP and TightVNC.

Thanks.

By: Anonymous

So I have this all setup and working great, thank you very much, but have come across one issue that I am hoping you can help me with. If the remote server is not currently logged on then I cannot connect to it. If somebody is not logged onto the remote server then I get a "failed to connect" error but if somebody is logged onto the remote server then the connecting computer will connect just fine, even if the screen is locked. I would think there would be a setting for this so the service can start with the system without a user having to log on, I can't be the only one to have a problem with this. It is a real problem when I try and work on the remote server over a weekend and need to reboot but nobody is available to log on locally.

By: D.A.

Try setting your target machine's router to also forward 5901 (UDP & TCP) to the local LAN IP address of the target machine attached to it. Then use display number 1 instead of 0 when connecting to the target with RealVNC or TightVNC or UltraVNC or whatever VNC you like, i.e.,

vncviewer mypcsomewhere.dyndns.org:1

or

vncviewer xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx:1

- where "mypcsomewhere.dyndns.org" is the dyndns service URL linked to your target PC
- or where xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx is the external IP address of your router (facing the Internet)
- where "1" is the display number of your Ubuntu desktop following the local user's display which is usually display 0

- - -

Important note: passwords for RealVNC and UltrVNC are sent over the LAN/WAN in clear text and could be sniffed by a prowler monitoring your system(s). It is usually recommended to set up a secure socket layer (SSL) tunnel first when accessing remote PC's via the Internet using VNC.

- - -

Also of note: I've never set this up with Ubuntu (yet) but have done so many times with Mandriva and OpenSuse. Both worked fine as described.

Good luck!

-- DA

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