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danmactough/ec2-desktop.md

Last active January 4, 2016 17:49
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ec2-desktop.md

On your EC2 server:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop

Reboot your server

On your EC2 server:

sudo apt-get install tightvncserver
vncserver :1

You will be prompted for a password.

Optionally (if you hate the Ubuntu Unity desktop), on your EC2 server:

# Stop the vncserver
vncserver -kill :1

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback

vim .vnc/xstartup
# This is the vncserver startup script.
# Edit the last line to read:
# /etc/X11/Xsession gnome-session-fallback
# Type :wq to save and quit vim

# Restart the vncserver
vncserver :1

On your Mac

  • Create an ssh tunnel
ssh -N -L 5901:localhost:5901 -i <path to your PEM file> ubuntu@<your-ec2-server-ip>
  • Open Finder
  • Under the Go menu, select "Connect to Server..."
  • For the Server Address, enter: vnc://localhost:5901
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