How to login to desktop version of my linux server?

JoeBiss

Hello.

I have a dedicated server and I want to upload some videos to vimeo because my internet is very slow. So what is the best option to login to my linux box? I heard about VNCserver but some say it's "slow". Is there something silimar that doesn't require huge connection so I can connect easily and without waiting few minutes for the mouse to move?

I use linux debian.

Thanks!

Nekki

I use this everywhere I need a desktop:

https://www.sonicboxes.com/lowmem-debian-lxde-nomachine-script/

Top work from @nunim

namhuy

said: I heard about VNCserver but some say it's "slow"

http://www.namhuy.net/3111/install-vnc-server-debian-7.html
not true, i tested vnc server on some linux distros and the speed is very useable

xDragonZ

Connect to your server and install this http://www.teamviewer.com

Mark_R

I always use this http://www.tightvnc.com

its not slow at all and has alot of configurable options to speed up the performance even more on slow networks.

JoeBiss

@Nekki said:
I use this everywhere I need a desktop:

https://www.sonicboxes.com/lowmem-debian-lxde-nomachine-script/

Top work from nunim

Thanks a lot. That worked for me pretty fast too.

Nekki

JoeBiss said: Thanks a lot. That worked for me pretty fast too.

Glad it helped, that little script is excellent, and it easily gives the best performance of anything I've used. As an added bonus, there's also a relatively decent free iPad app.

sc754

I always use xrdp with something like gnome fallback. Works like a charm xD

Nomad

@sc754 said:
I always use xrdp with something like gnome fallback. Works like a charm xD

Second that.
Using xrdp you can connect with windows remote desktop.

nunim

@Nekki said:
Glad it helped, that little script is excellent, and it easily gives the best performance of anything I've used. As an added bonus, there's also a relatively decent free iPad app.

Thanks for the plug. What iPad app do you use?

I know they launched an Android/iOS app recently but I wasn't sure if it supported 3.5x, figured it was 4.x only.

Jeffrey

Install a lightweight desktop environment first, LXDE is preferred. Then install a VNC Server and read the instructions

Nekki

nunim said: Thanks for the plug. What iPad app do you use?

I know they launched an Android/iOS app recently but I wasn't sure if it supported 3.5x, figured it was 4.x only.

It's the official NoMachine app, it works fine you just have to check the option to use the NoMachine login when setting up the connection. It's been a life saver a couple of times when I've been away from my PC for a weekend.

nunim

@Nekki said:
It's the official NoMachine app, it works fine you just have to check the option to use the NoMachine login when setting up the connection. It's been a life saver a couple of times when I've been away from my PC for a weekend.

Very happy to see NX get a proper Android/iOS client. The lack of a mobile client was the only real downside previously.

The touch settings certainly take some getting used to but it's working great. Thanks for the heads up, I'll be sure to add the setup of the Android client to the guide.

linuxthefish

x2go is the best, no messing around just a few commands (for Debian 7) and you have a working desktop that you can add in x2go with "XFCE".

apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keys.gnupg.net E1F958385BFE2B6E
echo "deb http://packages.x2go.org/debian wheezy main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
echo "deb-src http://packages.x2go.org/debian wheezy main" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
apt-get -y update
apt-get -y install x2go-keyring && apt-get -y update
apt-get -y install iceweasel xul-ext-adblock-plus xfce4 x2goserver

bf1

My only concern about this software is that it's closed source. There are alternatives to this:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeNX

The FreeNX project is I think a fork of nomachine, unfortunately development has stopped in 2012, anyway it should use the same NX technology.

There is also a project called X2Go which seems to be under continued development and was recently adopted by Fedora.

http://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/wiki:repositories:ubuntu

No fancy android apps but open source, which imo is more important, but well it all depends on what you are working on, my machines contain very sensitive data so I can not afford to use closed source software to handle my connections.

@Nekki said:
I use this everywhere I need a desktop:

https://www.sonicboxes.com/lowmem-debian-lxde-nomachine-script/

Top work from nunim

Nekki

bf1 said: No fancy android apps but open source, which imo is more important, but well it all depends on what you are working on, my machines contain very sensitive data so I can not afford to use closed source software to handle my connections.

In my case it's just for convenience. I have nothing but temporary data on the machines I connect to via NX.

nunim

@bf1 said:
No fancy android apps but open source, which imo is more important, but well it all depends on what you are working on, my machines contain very sensitive data so I can not afford to use closed source software to handle my connections.

The majority of users here are not viewing or transferring highly sensitive data, they just need a quick desktop to run FireFox or similar.

It's not a perfect solution for all cases, I designed the script to be easy to spin up on a new machine, i.e. DigitalOcean so you can get up and running when you need a remote desktop for whatever reason. If you're utilizing this for commercial purposes you'll want to roll your own solution obviously.

Mun

In regards to x2go I have a prebuilt script for ubuntu that does all the heavy work for you.

https://www.qwdsa.com/converse/threads/ubuntu-x2go-installer.44/

Enjoy.

TheLonely

Btw, X2Go is a bit trickier to install on CentOS6.x

Mun

@TheLonely said:
Btw, X2Go is a bit trickier to install on CentOS6.x

I could probably whip up a script..... I just hate centos....

hostnoob

xrdp is horrible to use IMO. x2go is good.