Tight VNC Server, Ubutu 12.10 and unity desktop

Question

I've done the following but all I get in VNC Viewer is a blank orange screen, any help appreciated.

1. apt-get -y install ubuntu-desktop tightvncserver

2. adduser vnc && passwd vnc

3. echo "vnc ALL=(ALL) ALL" >> /etc/sudoers

4. sudo -u vnc vncpasswd

5. nano ~/.vnc/xstartup and enter the following:

   #!/bin/sh
   # Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
   unset SESSION_MANAGER
   . /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
   
   [ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
   [ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
   xsetroot -solid grey
   vncconfig -iconic &
   x-terminal-emulator -geometry 1280x1024+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
   #x-window-manager &
   

   save

6. sudo nano /etc/init.d/vncserver, paste in the following, then save:

   #!/bin/sh -e
   ### BEGIN INIT INFO
   # Provides:          vncserver
   # Required-Start:    networking
   # Default-Start:     3 4 5
   # Default-Stop:      0 6
   ### END INIT INFO
   
   PATH="$PATH:/usr/bin/"
   
   # The Username:Group that will run VNC
   export USER="vnc"
   #${RUNAS}
   
   # The display that VNC will use
   DISPLAY="1"
   
   # Color depth (between 8 and 32)
   DEPTH="16"
   
   # The Desktop geometry to use.
   #GEOMETRY="<WIDTH>x<HEIGHT>"
   #GEOMETRY="800x600"
   GEOMETRY="1024x768"
   #GEOMETRY="1280x1024"
   
   # The name that the VNC Desktop will have.
   NAME="my-vnc-server"
   
   OPTIONS="-name ${NAME} -depth ${DEPTH} -geometry ${GEOMETRY} :${DISPLAY}"
   
   . /lib/lsb/init-functions
   
   case "$1" in
   start)
   log_action_begin_msg "Starting vncserver for user '${USER}' on   localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver ${OPTIONS}"
   ;;
   
   stop)
   log_action_begin_msg "Stopping vncserver for user '${USER}' on localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver -kill :${DISPLAY}"
   ;;
   
   restart)
   $0 stop
   $0 start
   ;;
   esac
   
   exit 0
   

   Then ctrl-x to save, Y for Yes, and enter to accept file name.

7. chown -R vnc. /home/vnc/.vnc && chmod +x /home/vnc/.vnc/xstartup

8. sed -i 's/allowed_users.*/allowed_users=anybody/g' /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config

9. chmod +x /etc/init.d/vncserver && service vncserver start

10. update-rc.d vncserver defaults

11. reboot.

12. finally, go in there with tightvnc viewer client, and voila, blank kool aid tangerine orange screen.

Answer 1

you didn't set gui session for xstartup file, that is why you see blank screen when try try to remotely connect to your desktop/server via vnc on ubuntu, if you want gnome, install these packages

# apt-get install gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon metacity nautilus gnome-terminal

and use this xstartup file

#!/bin/sh

export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &

gnome-panel &
gnome-settings-daemon &
metacity &
nautilus &
gnome-terminal &

Answer 2

From what i've seen you cant vnc into unity. Install a different desktop environment and you'll be good. Heres how woth xfce:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/articles/how-to-setup-vnc-for-ubuntu-12