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Linux and remote desktop stuff.

Posted: 2006-03-12 02:22pm
by Alferd Packer
So, here's my situation. I have this laptop with Ubuntu Linux on it, and that's fine and dandy. One of the cool bits of software that came with it is a Terminal Services client. Struck with a flash of inspiration, I enabled Remote Desktop on my XP Pro box and booya! I could access my Windows machine from anywhere within 200 feet of my home.

Now comes the real challenge. I also have a Linux box, running Debian sarge. I'd like to do the same thing with it as I have done with my Windows box. Sadly, it's not as easy as clicking a checkbox, or so I have come to find out. So, I wonder if anyone has any tips for enabling remote desktop functionality from Linux client to Linux server. This is by no means necessary; I can always just use ssh to administer the box, but it's something that's stymied me for a long time and I'd like to figure it out one of these days, anyway. :D

Posted: 2006-03-12 02:51pm
by Pu-239
Install the tightvnc clients and server

On server:
vncserver

On client:
vncclient -via server server:1

Edit the files in .vnc to load up a real desktop environment instead of twm or whatever it defaults to.

NX (or FreeNX if you don't feel like paying) has a LOT better performance (even better than RDP), but the free one is rather flaky if your session gets uncleanly disconnected (and it's probably not worth paying for if you're only going to do sporadic administration- more useful if you want to use your desktop off in remote places, by carrying the client on a flash drive (better than livecd, though more dangerous if you're using an untrusted computer that could have keyloggers installed)). I've used it, but it kept breaking, so I went back to VNC.

http://freenx.berlios.de/
http://www.nomachine.com

Posted: 2006-03-12 03:50pm
by Yogi
I know for Gnome, under Dektop --> Prefrences --> Remote Desktop you can start a vnc server there. I don't know about KDE though.