[SOLVED] HOWTO: Setting up a VNC to GDM connection

[arnieboy]

This thread is now defunct! Please refer to the following thread for a more updated Howto:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=122402




This howto is to show how to setup VNC to show a GDM login screen when you connect to your Ubuntu box, effectively using XDMCP over VNC. A VNC client is easier to get going on Windows than a X server for most people, so here's how to use it to connect to your linux box.

First thing you'll need to do is enable the universe repositories: https://wiki.ubuntu.com//AddingRepositoriesHowto

Then it's just six easy steps:

1. System->Administration->Login Screen Setup
Tab Security->Enable XDMCP
Tab XDMCP--> You can disable "Honor Indirect Requests"
For kdm or even xdm, just look through the settings and find XDMCP, make sure it's enabled.
For Intel chipsets
2.

sudo apt-get install vnc4server xinetd

(comes from universe)
For AMD64 chipsets
2.

sudo apt-get install vncserver xinetd

(comes from universe)

3.

sudo gedit /etc/services

Put the following line at the end :

vnc1024 5901/tcp # VNC & GDM

4.

sudo gedit /etc/xinetd.conf

Make it look like the following (please do not put the opening and closing braces of defaults in the same line). It wont work!:

defaults
{
}
service vnc1024 {
disable = no
socket_type = stream
protocol = tcp
wait = no
user = nobody
server = /usr/bin/Xvnc
server_args = -inetd :1 -broadcast -geometry 1024x768 -depth 16 -once -fp /usr/share/X11/fonts/misc -securitytypes=none
}

5.

sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart

6. Restart your computer.

That's it! Try connecting from another machine using and see how it goes.

If you need a VNC client for Windows, try out UltraVNC http://ultravnc.sf.net it's the one I prefer.

for 1024x768 -> vncviewer localhost:1

For connecting from Linux vnc4viewer with tsclient work well.

Credits: Random Juju and of course
Intangible

[traherom]

I had this working on Hoary, but the upgrade has stopped it. I'm not sure why, so if anyone gets it working...

Also, the enable XDMCP option has been moved to the "Security" tab.

[Louisvdw]

I'm also having trouble making it work.

It seems that the package vnc4server does not exist in the universe. I found vncserver and installed that instead. Xvnc is running, but UltraVNC give a Invalid Connection Failed - Invalid Protocol error.


My enable XDMCP option is still under the XDMCP Tab...

[arnieboy]

I'm also having trouble making it work.

It seems that the package vnc4server does not exist in the universe. I found vncserver and installed that instead. Xvnc is running, but UltraVNC give a Invalid Connection Failed - Invalid Protocol error.


My enable XDMCP option is still under the XDMCP Tab...

vnc4server does indeed exist in breezy universe under x11 section:
http://packages.ubuntu.com/breezy/x11/vnc4server

[traherom]

It exists, but doesn't seem to work.

[Louisvdw]

Is there a diff repository I can use to get it? Cause mine does not show it. I searched as well for it. Nothing?

My current Universe is: deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe

[arnieboy]

It exists, but doesn't seem to work.

u mean u cant install it from synaptic or it doesnt work when u try to run it?

[arnieboy]

Is there a diff repository I can use to get it? Cause mine does not show it. I searched as well for it. Nothing?

My current Universe is: deb http://za.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe

do a

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

delete all contents, and copy the following into that:

deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'universe'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team, and may not be under a free licence. Please satisfy yourself as to
## your rights to use the software. Also, please note that software in
## universe WILL NOT receive any review or updates from the Ubuntu security
## team.
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe

## Uncomment the following two lines to add software from the 'backports'
## repository.
## N.B. software from this repository may not have been tested as
## extensively as that contained in the main release, although it includes
## newer versions of some applications which may provide useful features.
## Also, please note that software in backports WILL NOT receive any review
## or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
# deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted

deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ breezy universe main restricted multiverse

save and exit and then do a

sudo apt-get update

now install vnc4server as outlined in the howto.

[Louisvdw]

Could it be that because I have the 64bit Ubuntu that vnc4server does not show. I copied your sources.list file and still can't find it (sudo apt-cache search vnc4). It returns nothing?

[arnieboy]

Could it be that because I have the 64bit Ubuntu that vnc4server does not show. I copied your sources.list file and still can't find it (sudo apt-cache search vnc4). It returns nothing?

thats correct. there is no vnc4server package for AMD64. thats why it doesnt show.