Install VNC Server - TightVNC
VNC: Virtual Network Computing
Let's follow the directions provided by Digital Ocean:
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-configure-vnc-on-ubuntu-18-04
On your server, begin by updating your list of packages:
$ sudo apt-get update
Install the lightweight Xfce desktop environment, along with some "goodies"
$ sudo apt-get install xfce4 xfce4-goodies
Stop and check diskspace:
ubuntu@ip-172-31-26-122:~$ df Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on /dev/xvda1 8065444 2330024 5719036 29% /
Once the desktop environment is in place, install the TightVNC service:
$ sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
Stop and check diskspace:
ubuntu@ip-172-31-26-122:~$ df Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on /dev/xvda1 8065444 2332520 5716540 29% /
Run the following to create the password(s) and configuration files for your VNC service:
Password must be between six and eight characters in length.
Passwords longer than eight characters will be truncated.
At this time, you can also create a "View Only" password.
$ vncserver
We will now configure the VNC service, but first, we must stop the service:
$ vncserver -kill :1
We are going to be modifying the xstartup file. Before doing that, rename the original file:
$ mv ~/.vnc/xstartup ~/.vnc/xstartup.bak
Create a new xstartup file
$ sudo nano ~/.vnc/xstartup
Commands in this file are executed whenever you start or restart the VNC serice. We need VNC to start our desktop environment if it isn't already started. Add the following commands to the xstartup file:
#!/bin/sh xrdb $HOME/.Xresources #xsetroot -solid grey #x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" & #x-window-manager & startxfce4 &
Make sure the file has execute permission
$ sudo chmod +x ~/.vnc/xstartup
Now, restart the VNC service:
$ vncserver
To connect a VNC client, we need to open access to port 5901 (default port number for VNC)
Security Groups -> launch-wizard-1, click on "Inbound" tab Click Edit Click "Add Rule" in the Edit inbound rules dialog box Custom TCP Rule, TCP, 5901, Anywhere 0.0.0.0/0,::/0 , VNC Port
If using the Real VNC, VNC Viewer, when entering the host name, also define the port as 5901
example: bill.hopto.org:5901
Once everything appears to be working (more or less)... Install Chromium Web Browser
$ sudo apt install -y chromium-browser