Help with VNC on Ubuntu

[Donut417]

I have a Plex server that runs on Ubuntu. I need to be able to remote desktop in. I do have SSH capabilities but Im not as well versed in the Linux command line and some times I need a GUI. For the record I intend ot remote desktop with my Mac, MacOS has a built in client. I used to have this setup but have since reinstalled the server due to upgrading to the latest LTS version. For the record this is version 22.04 desktop version. I run the server headless (I have a dummy plug for the HDMI) but I might occasionally need a GUI.

[ieleja]

Use tutorial, like this:

 

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-configure-vnc-on-ubuntu-22-04

 

and, when run in problems, ask more specific questions...

[Donut417]

18 hours ago, ieleja said:

Use tutorial, like this:

 

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-configure-vnc-on-ubuntu-22-04

 

and, when run in problems, ask more specific questions...

Sorry it took so long to get back, life happend.

 

I installed Tight VNC using the command listed. When attempt to do the command to start the VNC server it comes up with the error :

 

Warning: plex-server:1 is taken because of /tmp/.X1-lock
Remove this file if there is no X server plex-server:1

New 'X' desktop is plex-server:2

Starting applications specified in /home/plex/.vnc/xstartup
Log file is /home/plex/.vnc/plex-server:2.log

 

This is where I get stuck every time. Like I said, not a Linux expert by no degree.

[ieleja]

6 hours ago, Donut417 said:

it comes up with the error :

 

Warning: plex-server:1 is taken because of /tmp/.X1-lock
Remove this file if there is no X server plex-server:1

New 'X' desktop is plex-server:2

comes with a warning, that there is server already, but you can connect to this second instance :2

 

But I think, that after restart, it be gone and you can start follow instruction from

 

$ vncserver

 

[Donut417]

7 hours ago, ieleja said:

comes with a warning, that there is server already, but you can connect to this second instance :2

 

But I think, that after restart, it be gone and you can start follow instruction from

 

$ vncserver

 

After reboot I tried the vncserver command and I get the same error. Can't connect to the server via my Mac. I can SSH in to the server on MacOS and Windows however. 

 

Im guessing something is misconfigured but I dont know what. 

[ieleja]

You can ssh to your server and run:

lsof -i -P -n

and get which program listens on this VNC port (5901)

[Donut417]

2 hours ago, ieleja said:

You can ssh to your server and run:

lsof -i -P -n

and get which program listens on this VNC port (5901)

Quote

COMMAND    PID USER   FD   TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
Plex\x20M  880 plex   10u  IPv6  20338      0t0  TCP *:32400 (LISTEN)
Plex\x20M  880 plex   11u  IPv4  20340      0t0  TCP 127.0.0.1:32401 (LISTEN)
Plex\x20M  880 plex   60u  IPv4  40985      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:52508->52.16.17.203:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20M  880 plex   71u  IPv4  25091      0t0  UDP *:32414
Plex\x20M  880 plex   73u  IPv4  25092      0t0  UDP *:32410
Plex\x20M  880 plex   74u  IPv4  25093      0t0  UDP *:32412
Plex\x20M  880 plex   75u  IPv4  25094      0t0  UDP *:32413
Plex\x20M  880 plex   76u  IPv4  25095      0t0  UDP 127.0.0.1:56268
Plex\x20M  880 plex   77u  IPv4  25096      0t0  UDP 192.168.1.18:34634
Plex\x20M  880 plex   78u  IPv4  25097      0t0  UDP 127.0.0.1:36741
Plex\x20M  880 plex   79u  IPv4  25098      0t0  UDP 192.168.1.18:56934
Plex\x20M  880 plex   80u  IPv4  25099      0t0  UDP *:1901
Plex\x20M  880 plex   81u  IPv4  25100      0t0  UDP 192.168.1.18:57153
Plex\x20M  880 plex   83u  IPv4  28663      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:39090->172.105.97.53:443 (ESTABLISHED)
Plex\x20S 1022 plex    4u  IPv4  25089      0t0  TCP 127.0.0.1:42867 (LISTEN)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   10u  IPv4  29215      0t0  TCP 127.0.0.1:32600 (LISTEN)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   60u  IPv4  28876      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:52522->52.16.17.203:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   61u  IPv4  28635      0t0  TCP 127.0.0.1:49490->127.0.0.1:42867 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   62u  IPv4  27240      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:55112->172.64.146.103:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   63u  IPv4  27241      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:55128->172.64.146.103:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   64u  IPv4  27242      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:55138->172.64.146.103:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Plex\x20T 1354 plex   65u  IPv4  28603      0t0  TCP 192.168.1.18:55148->172.64.146.103:443 (CLOSE_WAIT)
Xtightvnc 2954 plex    0u  IPv4  34357      0t0  TCP *:6002 (LISTEN)
Xtightvnc 2954 plex    3u  IPv4  34359      0t0  TCP *:5902 (LISTEN)

Nothing listen's on 5901 if Im reading this correctly. Looks like tightvnc listens on 5902.

[ieleja]

What happen, when you connect to 5902 (or 6002)?

[Donut417]

2 hours ago, ieleja said:

What happen, when you connect to 5902 (or 6002)?

I dont know how. MacOS has a built in VNC client, Im not sure how to change the ports that it uses. I just know the setup worked before I reformatted and re setup my plex server a few months ago.

[ieleja]

from any VNC client connection to:

 

IP address:5902

(192.168.1.18:5902)