Cloud Desktop
Overview
Having a persistent cloud environment means no more standby or shutting when you’re moving or leaving the computer. Leveraging cloud computing, it could be as cheap to run or as powerful as you want configure it.
Install Gnome
Install Gnome desktop on the server:
sudo apt install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon metacity nautilus gnome-terminal gnome
If asked, use the maintainers version of configuration file.
Install VNCsudo apt install vnc4server
Create user because you don’t want to run it as root:
sudo adduser -m danny
From this point forward, everything will be done under this account unless otherwise stated.
Optional:
Make user’s default shell to bash:
usermod -s /bin/bash
Give user super user access:
usermod -aG sudo danny
Setup VNCStart the vnc server:
vncserver :1
This will create the necessary configuration files needed to run.
Stop the server:
vncserver -kill :1
Amend the following lines so that VNC session will start gnome in ~/.vnc/xstartup:
!/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 $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
x-window-manager &
gnome-panel &
gnome-settings-daemon &
gnome-session &
metacity &
nautilus &
Start VNC on BootEdit cron to start VNC server when the server starts up:
@reboot /usr/bin/vncserver -depth 24 -geometry 1600x1200 -randr :1
Accessing Cloud Desktop
Download a VNC client / viewer such as RealVNC. Enter the IP address and press connect. If it was successful connecting to the server, it will prompt for a password.
Optional Enhancements
Beyond the above steps there are additional settings and setup could be done to make it easier. These go beyond this article but worth looking up and may depend on your hosting provider.
- Static IP – Having a consistent IP will help looking up the new address before connecting every time.
- Domanin – A step above static IP is to have a domain which points to the remote dekstop so that instead of entering a bunch of numbers, it can be replaced with a rememberable address like mydesktop.dannytsang.co.uk
- VPN – Remote desktop isn’t the most secure method of connection. Setting up a VPN will allow the connection to be hidden from the public and prevent anyone without VPN to access the desktop. This does introduce an additional step before connecting but well worth the security enhancement
- Separate storage – Having the /home or data portion of the cloud desktop stored in a different place would allow the cloud desktop to be destroyed and the personal files attached to a different desktop when needed. Also keeps costs down you create a cloud desktop and attach personal files on demand
Summary
Having a persistent desktop or VDI setup is possible and in a corporate world, a Citrix environment is fairly typical technology to use for this sort of thing. As a home user this would be cheap enough to try out but you would need to factor in hardware to access the virtual environment.
How to Install and Configure VNC on Ubuntu 16.04
Changing the resolution of a VNC session in linux
