Tight VNC Server, Ubutu 12.10 and unity desktop

Question

I've done the following but all I get in VNC Viewer is a blank orange screen, any help appreciated.

1. apt-get -y install ubuntu-desktop tightvncserver

2. adduser vnc && passwd vnc

3. echo "vnc ALL=(ALL) ALL" >> /etc/sudoers

4. sudo -u vnc vncpasswd

5. nano ~/.vnc/xstartup and enter the following:

   #!/bin/sh
   # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
   unset SESSION_MANAGER
   . /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
   
   [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
   [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
   xsetroot -solid grey
   vncconfig -iconic &
   x-terminal-emulator -geometry 1280x1024+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
   #x-window-manager &
   

   save

6. sudo nano /etc/init.d/vncserver, paste in the following, then save:

   #!/bin/sh -e
   ### BEGIN INIT INFO
   # Provides:          vncserver
   # Required-Start:    networking
   # Default-Start:     3 4 5
   # Default-Stop:      0 6
   ### END INIT INFO
   
   PATH="$PATH:/usr/bin/"
   
   # The Username:Group that will run VNC
   export USER="vnc"
   #${RUNAS}
   
   # The display that VNC will use
   DISPLAY="1"
   
   # Color depth (between 8 and 32)
   DEPTH="16"
   
   # The Desktop geometry to use.
   #GEOMETRY="<WIDTH>x<HEIGHT>"
   #GEOMETRY="800x600"
   GEOMETRY="1024x768"
   #GEOMETRY="1280x1024"
   
   # The name that the VNC Desktop will have.
   NAME="my-vnc-server"
   
   OPTIONS="-name ${NAME} -depth ${DEPTH} -geometry ${GEOMETRY} :${DISPLAY}"
   
   . /lib/lsb/init-functions
   
   case "$1" in
   start)
   log_action_begin_msg "Starting vncserver for user '${USER}' on   localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver ${OPTIONS}"
   ;;
   
   stop)
   log_action_begin_msg "Stopping vncserver for user '${USER}' on localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver -kill :${DISPLAY}"
   ;;
   
   restart)
   $0 stop
   $0 start
   ;;
   esac
   
   exit 0
   

   Then ctrl-x to save, Y for Yes, and enter to accept file name.

7. chown -R vnc. /home/vnc/.vnc && chmod +x /home/vnc/.vnc/xstartup

8. sed -i 's/allowed_users.*/allowed_users=anybody/g' /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config

9. chmod +x /etc/init.d/vncserver && service vncserver start

10. update-rc.d vncserver defaults

11. reboot.

12. finally, go in there with tightvnc viewer client, and voila, blank kool aid tangerine orange screen.

Solution

you didn't set gui session for xstartup file, that is why you see blank screen when try try to remotely connect to your desktop/server via vnc on ubuntu, if you want gnome, install these packages

# apt-get install gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon metacity nautilus gnome-terminal

and use this xstartup file

#!/bin/sh

export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &

gnome-panel &
gnome-settings-daemon &
metacity &
nautilus &
gnome-terminal &

Comments

[web.learner]

Whilst this may theoretically answer the question, it would be preferable to include the essential parts of the answer here, and provide the link for reference.

[AlikElzin-kilaka]

Quoting: From what i've seen you cant vnc into unity. Can you reference to link stating that users cannot vnc into unity?

[Randal Oulton]

Thanks Biana, at the end back in Feb 2014 I ended up finding instructions for something that gave me gnome core, so I gave in and went with that.. next time out I will try yours. Many thanks.

[Nicholas DiPiazza]

all set now for some reason i had some settings on mine that were hiding my window title bars. your xstartup here works fine