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luri
Asked: 2011-02-08 11:00:06 +0800 CST

Remote login with graphical display manager (GDM, LightDM)

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Is it possible to remotely (via ssh) make a login to GDM? I'll explain a situation in which I'd need this: I'm on my laptop and connect to my desktop via ssh. I realize there are some updates available. I install them all, but I need to reboot the computer. The problem is that once the desktop has rebooted, there will be no GDM session available, since it's necessary to log in. Can I somehow perform the GDM login remotely from my laptop?

Edit: I can't find FreeNX for Maverick, and I haven't been able to configure x11vnc + vncviewer to work. Isn't there an easy way?

ssh

2 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Install x11vnc on the remote

    We assume a working ssh setup has already been done.

    user@remote: sudo apt-get install x11vnc

    Remote login with GDM

    We assume that a successful vnc setup has already been done.

    user@remote:~$ sudo x11vnc <options>

    x11vnc will use our predefinded VNC settings and passwords. For further options see the manpage and this nice and elaborate tutorial.

    Remote login with Light DM

    To access the Light DM login screen we need to submit the Xauhority file for Light DM

    ssh user@remote
user@remote: sudo su
root@remote: x11vnc -auth /var/lib/lightdm/.Xauthority -display :0

    View the remote screen

    On the client side launch the vncviewer (e.g. from xtightvncviewer as follows:

    vncviewer -via user@remote localhost:0

    By localhost:0 we display screen 0 on the localhost. The option -via is for using ssh.

    After typing in the password for the remote login we can proceed with the graphical login.

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  2. FreeNX. You log in graphically - same as sitting in front of computer. All of it happens tunneled though SSH. You'll love it.

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