Connecting to a Remote Server for the First Time

Question

I'd like to know how to connect to a remote Ubuntu 12.04LTS OS server. I've never done this, and wondered if anyone would be willing to help a noob out; I'd appreciate it!

I've always wanted to be able to connect to a remote machine via the terminal and even more so something that I can use to access the server in a window on my current machine (like it's own desktop).

Solution

To connect a remote server: Type the following command in your terminal

ssh remote_username@remote_host

which ssh is the command and is a shortend for secure shell replace remote_username and remote_host with proper UserName and HosName

Comments

[Yaron]

Don't forget to install openssh on your server before trying to connect to it.

[Stephan Richter]

you will need openssh on both, the server and the connecting machine.

[Stephan Richter]

btw, if your remote machine does not have a (known) name ("address"), you may want to connect by ip address. If you have access to the machine you can get the ip by entering 'ip a' If your remote is a virtual server, you should have gotten the address by your provider.

[mxwljw]

I was able to connect to the server via terminal (I'm stoked, thank you). Now I'm attempting to connect via VNC; it doesn't appear to want to do anything but tell me it's "Connecting". I do have the IP, and login details-but no cigar quite yet (using Screen Sharing app on Mac OS X). I discovered that my host has SSH installed, and that I as a Mac user also have it installed by default. Thanks for your help so far!

[mxwljw]

Thank you, however if I'm not mistaken that is for someone already with a graphical interface-I'm on a Mac machine trying to gain a graphical interface of a remote server.

[Organic Marble]

I'm Mac clueless, but I use a VNC client from windows to remote desktop into my Ubuntu boxes. So if there is a Mac VNC client, give that a shot.