Windows 10 remote desktop to Ubuntu 16.04 Unity

Question

The Ubuntu 16.04 and 14.04 default desktop environment is Unity. How can you remotely connect to it from a Windows 10 client?

The xRDP-over-XFCE solution is not the answer. We really want to use Unity.

I've tried various VNC solutions. None seems to work anymore. If somebody can confirm which one still works and how you set it up, it will be greatly appreciated.

The Remmina client with VNC via ssh tunnel works well from Ubuntu to Ubuntu. Is there any reason it can't be built for windows? Does Remmina depend on GTK+ features which are not available on Windows?

Solution 1

I think that you can use "Desktop share" to remotely connect it from win10 client. you only need to do the following steps:

1. sudo apt-get install dconf-tools
   
2. Check org > gnome > desktop > remote-access > enabled uncheck org > gnome > desktop > remote-access > require-encryption
   
3. Use ”Desktop sharing” set the password for vnc, and uncheck “You must confirm each access to this machine”.
4. Check the port: netstat –an|grep 5900

I hope that it is helpful for you.

Solution 2

Since Ubuntu 16.04, it's possible to have xrdp working against the Ubuntu Unity Interface even if some small issues still exists....

If you have Ubuntu 16.04, you can perform the following actions

> 1.install TigerVNC
> 2.install XRDP
> 3.Configure preferred desktop to be used in xRDP (Unity is one option)

Full Instructions on how to perform this can be found at http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=9962

If you have Ubuntu 16.10, you can use the following procedure which is much more simpler and straight forward

sudo apt-get install xrdp  

and you are done..

Full instruction can be found here as well

Hope this help Till next time

Comments

[ladyoftime315]

Linda or Daisy, thanks for chiming in. Have you actually tried this solution? What client to use on the win10 side? How to set it up?

[ladyoftime315]

Note the three issues: [1] need to right click on the black screen and open a terminal then run unity. [2] a pop-up for authenticate need be dismissed by clicking cancel button. [3] user cannot be locally logged on at the same time. Despite, this is a great news to know. Will give it a try.

[fIwJlxSzApHEZIl]

What do we do if netstat -an|grep 5900 returns nothing?