All new Registrations are manually reviewed and approved, so a short delay after registration may occur before your account becomes active.
GUI on headless server? Help needed
HiddenGoose
Member
I am newer and green when it comes to linux based operating systems. I grabbed a hosthatch special to play with a VPS to learn. I installed Ubuntu because I feel its more user friendly with its GUI. However since the servers are headless, it is all CLI/console. I am slowly learning and researching and gathering knowledge about the CLI commands but at times it is like looking at a foreign language. I have done a lot of reading over the past few days in trying to figure out how to get to the GUI via remote log in to look at the ubuntu apps. I was thinking to install KDE instead of the more native GNOME but I am not sure KDE has remote capabilities to get to the GUI? Also I am not sure if you technically need an HDMI dummy plug or if you can emulate via a virtual monitor.
Long winded story but does anyone have a recommended method on how to remote in and see the GUI on a headless server? As time goes on I hope to need the GUI less and less but I suppose that is what I am comfortable with being a more traditional mac and windows person. Thanks for any input and sharing in advance.
Comments
There are many tutorials around for this
https://docs.vultr.com/install-gui-environment-for-ubuntu
RustDesk: The Fast Open-Source Remote Access and Support Software
https://rustdesk.com/
Follow this
https://cloud.google.com/architecture/chrome-desktop-remote-on-compute-engine#kde-plasma
You can mount a Ubuntu desktop ISO onto your VPS and use the console tab to access the “screen” of your VPS, and install Ubuntu desktop onto your VPS. Then install any Remote Desktop app of your choice to be able to access the GUI.
Or if you already have a headless server installed, search up how to install a DE environment of your choice, then install a Remote Desktop app and connect to it,
I actually have Linux Mint on a VPS server since I wanted a playground to be able to write and test C++ for Linux without having to keep a Linux VM on every PC/laptop I have. I use XRDP over SSH to access the desktop.
Just note that using a GUI will significantly increase your RAM usage and things may be a little laggy due to a lack of iGPU on the host. YMMV.
Have you considered testing Linux on a virtual machine on your home computer first? I usually keep a VM around as a playground to test out installations before mirroring them live.
Morning,
I personally recommend a small desktop environment depending on your vps 2/4/6GB ram. With this, I have found setting up a small remote desktop can be a "try this, try that, here read this" I agree with PineappleM's advise and play around in your home lab. However if you don't have a home lab, I have used this setup many times and it works like a champ for me.
https://theserveradmin.com/adding-a-gui-to-a-server-or-vps/
Hope this helps,
Anthony
If you're not comfortable about the allegations surrounding RustDesk, try MeshCentral or Cockpit. Both can be used in a browser (limited clipboard share).
You should first confirm that your server has sufficient resources to run a desktop environment smoothly. Stay with something lightweight like IceWM, Openbox, LXQt, LXDE, XFCE, MATE. Most tiling window managers are even lighter, but I doubt they fit your traditional Mac/Windows taste.
I'm not sure what the experience with XRDP of others is like, but it's been laggy for me. Better than VNC, worse than modern alternatives. It doesn't play nicely with Wayland.
If you're okay with proprietary software, NoMachine and X2Go (X2Go is OSS but underlying NX protocol isn't) are decent.
LXDE light desktop and Nomachine NX is what I recommend.
I have been using https://github.com/Har-Kuun/OneClickDesktop on many vps
Just a word of caution - if you install a gui, you may naturally shy away from using the terminal delaying your progress.
I would leave the server as terminal, and have a local linux desktop vm or buy a cheap used laptop and install desktop on that.
Thanks everyone for all the support and comments thus far. I will be sure to look over all the different recommendations and likely, i will try most of them if not all just to become more familiar with the processes. It is very easy when the terminal has no data, I can simply wipe it and start again, haha.
haha very true!! Everyone migrates to their comfort zone. Do you have a recommendation on a website/forum/group that is a good resource for newer people to linux? Besides directly on the ubuntu website- even just for reviewing the basics. It is like teaching a kid to ride a bike. Everyone starts somewhere
I have a fair share of computer knowledge but just very lacking in the linux world. The more I read about linux and all the projects people put on ,github the more one realizes how many open source opportunities are out there just waiting for people to dig in and use.
I would say start with xrdp, and if it’s too slow or something, explore other options in the comments.
Installing xrdp is as simple as running 3 commands, and you’re set for a functional GUI.
Kasm VNC - A modern open source VNC server.
Enhanced security, higher compression, smoother encoding… all in a web-based client. Connect to your Linux server's desktop from any web browser. No client software install required.
https://www.kasmweb.com/kasmvnc
Rather than website/forum/group I would suggest taking a course. That way you get structured learning. There are lots of individual Linux experts who do courses, as do various learning platforms like the ones offered by Udemy, Linux Foundation, Red Hat.
Linux Foundations, Red Hat and CompTia all offer Certification paths too.
And much easier to learn today than 3 years ago as you can ask an LLM questions when stuff stuck.