Remote into Linux with GUI

[TheGroundedPilot]

I am open to whatever solution, but I dont want junk/spam/sketchy software if you get my drift. I am also trying to avoid any subscription service, or not pay more than $5 a month. My plan is to run a couple game servers off of a server I created running Kubuntu. this is my first linux PC, and I have a lot to learn. My question today is what is best practice to remote into the desktop environment, preferably, pre-login. I see a lot of terms like RDP and VPC thrown around.  I jam just looking to remote into a GUI desktop environment, and use a mouse and keyboard, from a windows 10 machine.

[Anghammarad]

a VNC Server could help...

 

But this doesn't show you the bootup...

 

For that you would need a TCP/IP KVM adapter... but those cost a few bucks...

[Donut417]

12 minutes ago, TheGroundedPilot said:

I am open to whatever solution, but I dont want junk/spam/sketchy software if you get my drift. I am also trying to avoid any subscription service, or not pay more than $5 a month. My plan is to run a couple game servers off of a server I created running Kubuntu. this is my first linux PC, and I have a lot to learn. My question today is what is best practice to remote into the desktop environment, preferably, pre-login. I see a lot of terms like RDP and VPC thrown around.  I jam just looking to remote into a GUI desktop environment, and use a mouse and keyboard, from a windows 10 machine.

VNC will work. Another option to consider is Guacamole. It still will use VNC to connect to the Linux box. But it allows you to remote access that machine via a Web browser. My friend uses it and says its the bees knees. Also one last thing, if the Linux box is not connected to a monitor 100% of the time you need to get a dumb plug for the video out. Other wise no GUI. Just thought Id mention that. 

 

11 minutes ago, Anghammarad said:

For that you would need a TCP/IP KVM adapter... but those cost a few bucks...

I think I saw a project with a Raspberry Pi 4 where you could add IPMI functionality to about any machine. Id imagine its cheaper than a IP KVM adapter. 

[Featherblade]

Theoretically you can set up x server so that it can run over ssh, although you would need to look that up since I've never personally done that and it might be a bit complicated to set up, but it would probably be a lot easier to just use VNC.

[GuiltySpark_]

50 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

I think I saw a project with a Raspberry Pi 4 where you could add IPMI functionality to about any machine. Id imagine its cheaper than a IP KVM adapter. 

Yup. https://pikvm.org/

[Sauron]

VNC is a simple and good-enough option, just be aware that your connection is not secured so you should not use it outside of your home network. There are ways to get around that problem but they're relatively advanced.

 

If you don't want to login before you can access your machine then you should use VNC as a systemd service, i.e. if you are using tigervnc:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/TigerVNC#Running_vncserver_for_virtual_(headless)_sessions

 

Also note that by default VNC creates a new desktop rather than showing what you'd see on a physical screen. That can also be changed and instructions are available on the page I linked.

[Guest]

8 hours ago, TheGroundedPilot said:

My plan is to run a couple game servers off of a server I created running Kubuntu.

You you by any chance looked at Pterodactyle, which allows hosting game servers inside docker containers and managing them via a web interface?

 

You can also start up a VNC Server Instance. TigerVNC as @Sauron posted above is what I personally recommend.

You can however host and configure a VNC Session with Krfb or Remmina.

 

For Accessing a VNC Session from Windows, I personally recommend Remmina.

[igormp]

17 hours ago, Donut417 said:

Also one last thing, if the Linux box is not connected to a monitor 100% of the time you need to get a dumb plug for the video out. Other wise no GUI. Just thought Id mention that. 

VNC can be run headlessly with a virtual desktop, no need for any video output at all or a dumb plug.

[Donut417]

2 hours ago, igormp said:

VNC can be run headlessly with a virtual desktop, no need for any video output at all or a dumb plug.

I was told differently. Good to know. 

[norgaladir]

On 12/14/2021 at 6:00 PM, Donut417 said:

I was told differently. Good to know. 

Same here, I was only able to get this working with a dumb plug, so maybe I need to try something else. I also need to wait until I can get a new GPU for my server before this is even worth setting up though.

 

Also answering OP's question, I've actually found teamviewer to be the easiest to setup and use on linux, and use pre-login, and seems to fit most of the requirements they specified. They also mentioned playing a few games and I see parsec has linux support now but I've only used it on windows before.

[igormp]

9 minutes ago, norgaladir said:

They also mentioned playing a few games and I see parsec has linux support now but I've only used it on windows before.

They mentioned a gamer server, not regular games. With persec you'd actually need a display already running and a gpu with encode capabilities for streaming that running display onto a remote device.

[norgaladir]

4 minutes ago, igormp said:

They mentioned a gamer server, not regular games. With persec you'd actually need a display already running and a gpu with encode capabilities for streaming that running display onto a remote device.

oh oops, I misread that

[OldTweaker]

You could take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NX_technology by https://www.nomachine.com/ You can find the software for the machine that you want to control at https://www.nomachine.com/download/linux&id=1
I've used this in the past and it easy to set up and doesn't use too much bandwith. Clients are available for all operating systems as well

 

[Giganthrax]

Anydesk is free and works fine for me in both Linux and Windows.