Emulate a Remote Linux Desktop from Microsoft Windows

Need to access your Linux desktop from a Microsoft Windows Machine? Follow these simple steps to make your Windows Machine emulate your Linux Desktop.

Steps

  1. Download PuTTY freely at: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html.
  2. Download RealVNC freely at: http://www.realvnc.com/download.html.
  3. Install both programs as instructed.
  4. Open PuTTY.
  5. Enter your IP address in the Host Name box and Port should be 22. You can find your IP address by typing 'ipconfig' at your command prompt.
  6. Select SSH as your Protocol.
  7. Enter a name for your session (to be saved later for quick recall in subsequent sessions) in the Saved Sessions box.
  8. Click Save.
  9. Click Open.
  10. This will take you to the black PuTTY window.
  11. Open a tunnel on your remote Linux machine by using the following command: vncserver :01. This will open a tunnel that will allow you to emulate your remote desktop.
  12. Exit PuTTY and reopen the program.
  13. Select your saved session and click Load.
  14. In the far left menu bar scroll to the bottom and select Tunnels.
  15. On the Tunnels screen enter 59## in the Source Port box, where ## is your tunnel number. In the case above, your Source Port # would be 5901.
  16. In the destination box, enter your IP address as your Destination. Local and Auto should be selected below this.
  17. Go back to your first screen by selecting Session from the menu on the far left.
  18. Click Save. If you do not click Save you will lose all tunnel data necessary for your next session.
  19. You should now be ready to emulate your Linux Desktop.
  20. Click Open in the PuTTY window.
  21. Start RealVNC Server once the program is open.
  22. Enter localhost:#, where # is your tunnel number, in the small window that pops up. In the above example, you would enter localhost:1.
  23. Enter your password when RealVNC Server prompts you for your Linux password and hit OK.



Tips

  • If your Linux box is shutdown this will not work.
  • If your Linux box is restarted you will need to repeat the steps above as your tunnel will be automatically closed.
  • If a limited number of people are accessing the machine, it may be a good idea to assign tunnel numbers to each person. This will prevent people wasting time trying to find an open tunnel (one tunnel per login).
  • Invoke VNC Server with specified geometry (to fit your screen): vncserver -geometry widthxheight :##
  • Invoke VNC Server with specified geometry (to fit your screen) and color depth (8 to 32): vncserver -geometry widthxheight -depth 32:##
  • Kill VNC Server (to reassign tunnel): vncserver -kill :##
  • Get VNC Server help: vncserver -help.

Warnings

  • Never give out your password or username.
  • Always be careful to check system requirements when installing new programs.

Things You'll Need

  • PuTTy Program (free)
  • Real VNC Program (free)
  • Windows Machine (in front of you)
  • Linux Box (computer you'd like access)

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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