Question

Why unable to ssh to vnc xfce4 desktop on Ubuntu 16.04 server?

Posted on April 3, 2017
Development Ubuntu 16.04 DigitalOcean
Asked by Bob Tepley

Followed tutorials on setting up Ubuntu 16.04 server and using vnc to open xfce4 desktop. Always end up with gray blank screen. Google seems to suggest that many people who encounter this problem are using Digital Ocean. Many people claim different solutions; none of which work for me. Using debian based OS on computer, tightvncserver, and vncviewer.

Thanks.

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Flamber Hansen • April 3, 2017

Accepted Answer

Would it be possible for you to use X2Go instead of VNC? It’s more stable for something like you’re trying and has SSH built in, which makes it more secure. http://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:installation:x2goserver

Bob Tepley • April 3, 2017

Thanks for the tip, hansen! X2Go Client works, for me vncviewer and Remmina do not.

Root sign in works perfectly using x2go client. For some reason, user sign in using the x2go client session opens the x2go window, but it shuts down immediately, with message “session terminated.”

Currently using password (ssh keys next step). User password accepted after entering “ssh user@ip_address” , so password is working.

Tried useradd <username> in server desktop; username is already in system. Reset password using passwd <username>.

Still can’t sign in as user. Tried logging out as root, but desktop shuts down immediately, so can’t log in as user. Google shows user log in should work x2go client. Anybody have any ideas?

Thanks.

Bob Tepley • April 3, 2017

If I ssh as root into server, I can sudo -l <user>. But, I have heard it is insecure to ssh as root, so I would rather start out as user.