Can't access Desktop Sharing on 16.10 from Windows 10

**ianmanning** · November 30th, 2017

I want to get remote desktop access to my Ubuntu machine from Windows 10 on another machine on my LAN. I've just installed Ubuntu 16.10 and have Desktop Sharing configured to "Allow other users to view your desktop" and "Allow other users to control your desktop". I also have the option selected to "Automatically configure UPnP router to open and forward ports".

I am trying to connect to my Ubuntu host from a Windows 10 machine using a RealVNC client downloaded from realvnc.com. When I try to connect I get this:

"Unable to connect to VNC Server using your chosen security setting.
Either upgrade VNC Server to a more recent version from RealVNC, or
select a weaker level of encryption."

Prior to this I had tried installing x11vnc and tightvncserver, but each time I tried to connect using a VNC client from my Windows 10 machine I got "connection refused".

Can anyone help?

**howefield** · November 30th, 2017

Your first step should really be to get on to a supported release of Ubuntu. 16.10 has reached its end of life.

**ianmanning** · November 30th, 2017

Originally Posted by howefield

Your first step should really be to get on to a supported release of Ubuntu. 16.10 has reached its end of life.

Is Desktop Sharing supported on Ubuntu 17.04 - for access using VNC from Windows 10?

**howefield** · November 30th, 2017

Originally Posted by ianmanning

Is Desktop Sharing supported on Ubuntu 17.04 - for access using VNC from Windows 10?

Yes, you can do the same with 17.04 as you can with 17.10. Just to make sure that you are aware, Ubuntu release a new version every 6 months, they are supported for nine months except for the April release in the even numbered years, ie April 2016 is the current LTS, 18.04 will be the next one. A long winded way of saying that support for 17.04 will end in January.

I'd suggest either using the last LTS 16.04 or the latest 17.10, both of which can be directly upgraded to the next LTS.

**ianmanning** · November 30th, 2017

Originally Posted by howefield

Yes, you can do the same with 17.04 as you can with 17.10. Just to make sure that you are aware, Ubuntu release a new version every 6 months, they are supported for nine months except for the April release in the even numbered years, ie April 2016 is the current LTS, 18.04 will be the next one. A long winded way of saying that support for 17.04 will end in January.

I'd suggest either using the last LTS 16.04 or the latest 17.10, both of which can be directly upgraded to the next LTS.

I've gone for the upgrade which was offered in the "Software & Updates" section - 17.10. Fingers crossed I'll have more luck with remote desktop on that version...