YOUR COMPLETE ONLINE DESKTOP: Hosted on Server in just $5.00 :)
By: Manish Srivastava
Tags: Tutorial, Linux, Ubuntu, Php Developers, Linux Tutorial

I believe everyone Should have Personal Remote Desktop. As a programmer , You Must !!!

My desktop on server . I can work on it anywhere and anytime on any device.

Advantages? Simply, everyone become more productive with this anytime anyplace accessible Personal online Desktop . One Drive, Google Drive or any other known cloud Drives are far behind when compared with real Desktop on clouds.

Another advantage is you can save lots on hard wares and can start working on old 512 MB ram PC at home accessing 36 GB Ram advance PC on clouds.

I am not a Programmer. I love Programming and I am among 17 % of World’s programmer population who do not hold a formal degree in Computer Programming. I am an Engineer (Chemical Tech -Food Techno) who knows more about Heat Transfers and Mass Transfers and loves exploring.

Treat above stated introduction as my disclaimer that I can’t answer all your queries. I recently created my desktop on server and can remotely access it from my mobile , PC ,Laptop and Smart TV. Infact, I have started doing my all works on this remote Desktop. I am writing this article from my Remote Desktop using Firefox Browser.

You can also create your Personal Remote Desktop on clouds . Its easy and 10–15 minutes tasks and cost only $5. Yup believe me :)

what we are going to do :

On server :

We will install Ubuntu 18.04.3 (LTS) Server and on that we will install an Desktop OS of Choice. Will Add Virtual Network Computing (VNC).

On Remote Desktop

Install VNC Viewer : link to view our online desktop.

So, LETS START :

Prerequisites:

A Server :Ubuntu 18 Ubuntu 18.04.3 (LTS) x64 ( $5 USD ) :One can get in less than $5 from here Some Commands. Just Follow Me…

*STEP -1 *

(a) Login into root of server.

(b) Follow the given order of Commands : I am installing Kubuntu-desktop. But You can choose other ones given in this list .

command : sudo apt-get update

command : sudo apt install tasksel

command : sudo tasksel install kubuntu-desktop <--- Change this if you want

command : sudo apt install sddm

command : sudo dpkg-reconfigure sddm

The sddm display manager is the default one for KDE Plasma desktop. Hit Enter for Ok. The system will then offer you to make a selection for configuring sddm as follows:

You can see that my system has two display managers installed on it; gdm3(default for Ubuntu LTS) and sddm. Since I have to select sddm, I will use the keyboard down arrow to select it and then hit Enter for Ok.

command : reboot

** CONGRATULATIONS , YOU GOT YOUR DESKTOP ON SERVER. BUT WAIT YOU CAN’T ACCESS IT

WITHOUT VNC!!! ***

Virtual Network Computing, or VNC, is a connection system that allows you to use your keyboard and mouse to interact with a graphical desktop environment on a remote server. It makes managing files, software, and settings on a remote server easier for users who are not yet comfortable with the command line like me.

The step 2 is more easy. Just keep following me

*STEP -2 *

command : sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies

command : sudo apt install tightvncserver

command : vncserver

Output

You will require a password to access your desktops.

Password:

Verify:

The process then creates the necessary default configuration files and connection information for the server:

Output

Would you like to enter a view-only password (y/n)? n

Dont Forget to Write n (Its Important)

command : vncserver -kill :1

command : mv ~/.vnc/xstartup ~/.vnc/xstartup.bak

command : nano ~/.vnc/xstartup

We need VNC to start our desktop environment if it’s not already started. Add these commands to the file:( copy following three lines and exit)

←-copy — ->

#!/bin/bash

xrdb $HOME/.Xresources

startxfce4 &

<---copy--->

The first command in the file, xrdb $HOME/.Xresources, tells VNC’s GUI framework to read the server user’s .Xresources file. .Xresources is where a user can make changes to certain settings of the graphical desktop, like terminal colors, cursor themes, and font rendering. The second command tells the server to launch Xfce, which is where you will find all of the graphical software that you need to comfortably manage your server.

To ensure that the VNC server will be able to use this new startup file properly, we’ll need to make it executable.

command : sudo chmod +x ~/.vnc/xstartup

Now, restart the VNC server.

command : vncserver

command : ssh -L 5901:127.0.0.1:5901 -C -N -l yourservername your_server_ip

Remember to replace yourservername and your_server_ip with the sudo non-root username and IP address of your server.

command : sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/vncserver@.service

command : sudo systemctl daemon-reload

command : sudo systemctl enable vncserver@1.service

command : vncserver -kill :1

command : sudo systemctl start vncserver@1

command : sudo systemctl status vncserver@1

Start your SSH tunnel again:

command : ssh -L 5901:127.0.0.1:5901 -C -N -l sammy your_server_ip

** YOU ARE DONE WITH INSTALLING OF REMOTE DESKTOP . LETS ACCESS IT ON PC OR MOBILE **.

Download RealVNC from following link here.

Type IP address with port 5901 like xxx.xx.xx.xxx:5901 . It will prompt for user ID and Password. Use the one you declared earlier.

* WOW, YOU GOT ONE ALL TIME -ALL PLACE accessible ONLINE PERSONAL DESKTOP**

If you like my post , Please Like and Comment.

I am also Director to an IT Company. Anyone who is really interested in working with my team on Remotedesktop : an opensource solution can contact me on my personal email : Manishfoodtechs@gmail.com