[ubuntu] Remote Desktop

[badger_fruit]

I think the websites you went to from your school's network were reporting on the ports open/closed on THAT network, not yours.

The default port for RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is 3389 but that can be changed if required.

It is possible for the school to have blocked outbound RDP or VNC connections. If others can connect to their machines at home then you're doing something wrong - probably on your home router/firewall.

Depending on the OS of the target PC (let's assume it's Ubuntu), you need to:-

1. Determine the LOCAL IP address of it. Run gnome-terminal and type

sudo ifconfig

This will give you the LOCAL IP address of the "Target PC" (let's call this PC1).

2. Create a new INBOUND RULE on your Firewall or router - instructions vary but the info below will be all you'll need when you find the right section of the configuration tools:-

TCP 5800 (VNC)
TCP 5900 (VNC)

Point ALL of them to PC1's LOCAL IP address.

3. From PC1 visit www.whatismyipaddress.com or www.ipchicken.com; both will give you your PUBLIC IP address - as someone else mentioned, this may change so consider either asking your ISP for a STATIC IP or learn more about Dynamic DNS services (www.dyndns.org).

4. Load up your favourite remote-viewer (eg VNC) on the SOURCE PC (the one at school, let's call this PC2) and point it to the PUBLIC IP address you got in step 3.


That should work.

You may need to do something on the Ubuntu machine to start the VNC service and give it a password, I honestly don't use it as I use SSH to talk with my *nix machines when away from my network at home. I am sure that someone who can say how to install vnc and configure it will come along and help

I'd guess it would be something like

apt-get install vnc

and then

vncpasswd

to set a default password.

Good luck!

[kakashi_12]

yup i know. that's what i wanted to find out about was if the school's network ports were open that i needed. figured i needed it on both ends.

I did get the ip address.
I did port forward port 5900 both udp/tcp on my router to the private IP. Did not try 5800 however.
I did go to whatismyip.com to find my public ip address.
I did install VNC

Looks like I got everything you said except the 2nd port. However, I tried it at home (inside the network), and it worked fine. Now that I'm outside, outside the router and modem and internet, don't think it will work.
Unfortunately, I forgot to write down my public IP before leaving the house. But then I ALSO found out the ports were closed on this network. They do have to be open on this side too right? I'm going to try tomorrow with the right IP.

[kakashi_12]

SUCESS!

Looks like the port does not have to be open. I finally found the public IP, plugged it in, and it works. Thanks for all your help guys!

PS: I love this forum.

[DapperMe17]

Glad to hear that you figured it out with VNC.


Your problem with NoMachines is that you were downloading the .RPM files

Ubuntu uses the .DEB files, which are available at NoMachines.


Alien, is a program that makes .deb files from .rpm files. You don't need that.

[kakashi_12]

that explains it. thank you for clearing that up! now i got it. deb... of course, ubuntu is a distribution of debian, isn't it?

[DapperMe17]

Right on!

Don't give up on NX, it's the fastest remote desktop I've used, even while using SSH encryption.

90% of the configurations are automated!

If you get stuck, we'll help you out. NoMachines website has some good tutorials as well.