How do I remotely control another Ubuntu desktop from Ubuntu?

Overview of Solution

You need to change some settings on your host machine (to enable desktop control) and create a Remote Desktop Client profile on your client machine in order to connect to the host machine and ultimately view and control the host machine's desktop.

And yes, it is possible to use Remmina Remote Desktop Client on your client machine.

Enable Remote Control of Host Machine

Do the following on the host machine:

vino-preferences
  • vino-preferences also in Dash under Desktop Sharing

enter image description here

  1. Tick Allow other users to view your desktop
  2. Tick Allow other users to control your desktop
  3. Tick Require the user to enter this password
  4. Enter a difficult to guess passphrase
  5. Close

Create Remote Desktop Client profile on your Client Machine

Do the following on the client machine:

remmina
  • remmina also in Dash under Remmina Remote Desktop Client

Ctrl+N or Connection > New

enter image description here

  1. Fill in your IP address [123.123.12.3] where it says Server
  2. Connect

View and Control Host Machine

On the client machine, when asked for the VNC password, enter the passphrase you previously entered into the host machine.

If successful at this step, you should now be viewing and controlling the host machine's desktop from your client machine.


First, you need to allow the compter you want to remotely control to be controlled. Launch Remote Control Preferences, and allow Ubuntu to be remotely controlled. You can also set a password if you want. You can now control that computer remotely from another Ubuntu computer. Make sure to choose the VNC protocol when connecting to the computer. If you would like to control Windows 7 from Ubuntu, you need to choose the RDP protocol (You will need to have remote control allowed on the Windows 7 computer).


I have been using Remmina, and I'm very happy with it. Remmina is able to display and control a remote desktop session. If you don't have it installed you can do so from the USC

Ubuntu remote desktop access is based on technology called (VNC)

Tags:

Remote Desktop

Remote Access

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