In this tutorial we’ll install Gnome desktop and VNC server on Linux Centos Virtual Private Server (VPS). You need to install Gnome as the desktop for Linux VPS, this way you’ll get Graphical User Interface to manage your VPS or just use it as remote desktop. The VNC server is the remote control software that allows you to connect to the VPS Desktop.
1. Install Gnome Desktop, VNC Server and Xterm.
yum groupinstall gnome-desktop
yum install vnc-server xterm
It will take some time to install the Gnome Desktop as it quite big packages.
2. Create a normal user.
Now we create a normal user that will be used as remote desktop user. In this example I use ‘vncuser’ but you can choose your own username, just make sure you replace ‘vncuser’ to your chosen username.
useradd vncuser
Setup the user password for vncuser
passwd vncuser
3. Login as vncuser and create VNC password.
Next we need to create password to access VNC server. This password is different with the password we create on step 2, the password on step 2 is for accessing SSH while this one is to accessing VNC remote desktop.
vncpasswd
The command above will ask you to supply password to access the VNC server and create .vnc directory with passwd file inside it. To check whether passwd file is created run this command
ls .vnc
After that return to root user by executing command
exit
4. Creating xstartup script.
After we create the VNC user now we’ll create the VNC server xstartup script, we do this by starting and stopping the VNC server as root.
service vncserver start
service vncserver stop
Now check if the xstartup script is created
ls /home/vncuser/.vnc
That command should show these files: passwd <hostname>:1.log xstartup
5. Edit the default xstartup script to run Gnome desktop.
The default xstartup script looks like this:
#!/bin/sh
# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
twm &
You have to edit it so it looks like this:
#!/bin/sh
( while true; do xterm; done ) &
# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
unset SESSION_MANAGER
exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
xterm -geometry 1024x768 -ls -name "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
gnome-session &
6. Start the VNC server.
After finished editing the xstartup script run again the vncserver service
service vncserver start
You should see something like this:
New 'localhost.localdomain:1 (johndoe)' desktop is localhost.localdomain:1
Starting applications specified in /home/johndoe/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/johndoe/.vnc/localhost.localdomain:1.log
[ OK ]
7. Download Tight VNC client here: http://www.tightvnc.com/download.html
8. Connect to the VNC server
After you installed the Tight VNC client, run it and you’ll see this form:
VNC Connection
On the VNC Server field, insert your VPS’ IP address followed with ‘:1’ and then click on Connect. You’ll be asked for a password, this is the password you created on step 3.
If you need VPS hosting with VNC remote desktop installed, please contact HalfDedi at www.halfdedi.com or email info@halfdedi.com, they have a great VPS service
Pingback: Installing Gnome and VNC Remote Desktop on Centos VPS | Markus Blog
Nice tutorial bro..
gnome took 1 hour on my 512 Mb Ram vps 😛
thanks,
gnome took a while as it’s quite big packages to download and install
pleaase help me it dont work
if u can explain a little bit more step five, i did all of the steps but i don’t know what i have to do in step 5
basically you just have to make the xstartup script to be like what inside the bottom box.
hi when i start and stop vc service theres no folder created what i do?
i keep getting
Starting VNC server: no displays configured
i installed it step by step
can you help?
On some VPS you have to remove this – httpd* – from the /etc/yum.conf to make the gnome desktop install. Once the install is complete put back the “http*”.
If you don’t, you will get this error.
Missing Dependency: httpd >= 2.2.0 is needed by package gnome-user-share-0.10-6.el5.i386 (base)
Dude, you saved my life. <3
Yes, he didn’t say you need to edit the file “/etc/sysconfig/vncservers” and add this to the last two lines:
VNCSERVERS=”1:vncuser”
VNCSERVERARGS[1]=”-geometry 640×480″
actually the VNCSERVERARGS variable on /etc/sysconfig/vncservers is not needed as the geometry is already stated on the xstartup script.
After 4th step
i found only passwd file on commend
ls /home/vncuser/.vnc
removed httpd* from yum.conf
yet got one error
Failed:
httpd.x86_64 0:2.2.3-45.el5.centos.1
did the vncserver service runs OK? check the log file.
why did you remove httpd? there is no need to remove it.
[root@anwo ~]# service vncserver start
Starting VNC server: no displays configured [FAILED]
can any one help out ?
edit the file “/etc/sysconfig/vncservers” and add this to the last two lines:
VNCSERVERS=”1:vncuser”
VNCSERVERARGS[1]=”-geometry 1024×768?
Thanks for helping me get this setup on my VPS. Great tut.
This is great post. It configured my VPS perfectly. Thanks a lot for sharing…
Im having trouble at step 4, i did everything but when ever i put this command: ls /home/vncuser/.vnc, it keeps saying, no such files or directory. HOW DO I SOLVE THIS? please help me!