Linux – VNC via SSH with a single command

linuxUbuntuvnc

I have a VNC server (x11vnc) configured to allow me to log into the machine at the local display (:0) via SSH tunnel, following the instructions here.
My question: is there a way to create the tunnel AND launch vncviewer with a single command/script?

Here's how I'm launching x11vnc from /etc/gdm/Init/Default:

x11vnc -localhost -nopw -ncache 0 -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -forever -bg

Edit: please note that in this way x11vnc starts from gdm, so that I can log into the local session myself.

(Server and client: Xubuntu 9.04)

Best Answer

The vncviewer can connect on it's own through SSH, so a shorter command would be:

vncviewer -via username@hostname.tld localhost:x

On the above, x is your local display (0, 1...).

Related Solutions

Ubuntu Server running VNC

I'd suggest a better idea would be to use the built in functionality in ssh to tunnel/port forward some local ports on through your ssh client to the destination host, and use rdp on the windows boxes, and vnc on mac.

For the linux host, if you want graphical access to it, i'd suggest no machine (NX).

Linux – Trying to get X11 over SSH working: Connection refused by server

Don't set the display on the remote side. By using the -Y parameter on SSH, it will set up a listener on the (remote)local side that gets tunneled back to the local side.

You should be able to do this:

local$ ssh -Y user@remote
remote$ xlogo

...and the xlogo will pop up.

Edit: this assumes that the display is set up on the local system first, ie:

local$ xlogo

...should work before you perform the ssh, as ssh just plugs the forward back to whatever the originating session thinks is the correct display. This is useful, since you can carry your display through multiple ssh sessions:

local$ ssh remote
remote$ ssh further
further$ xlogo

...should work.

Best Answer

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Ubuntu Server running VNC

Linux – Trying to get X11 over SSH working: Connection refused by server

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