Installing GUI Environment Lubuntu-Desktop on Ubuntu 17.04 Server

There are cases when it is easier to manage a server using a GUI instead of with SSH. We are going to install Lubuntu Desktop on an Ubuntu server. After installation, you will be able to access the Lubuntu desktop using a VNC client.

Prerequisites

• Server with Ubuntu 17.04 x64 installed.
• Login with sudo rights or root.

Installing Lubuntu-desktop on Ubuntu

Login to your VPS server via the terminal.

Make sure that all of your packages and dependencies are up-to-date.

apt-get update

Install the Lubuntu Desktop.

apt-get install lubuntu-desktop

It can take up to ten minutes for the installation. After the installation, you'll have a full-fledged desktop with some handy applications like AbiWord for docs and FireFox for web browsing.

Reboot the VPS.

reboot

Accessing the Desktop

Option 1

Vultr has a View Console option for servers and Vultr's noVNC is a secure alternative to VNC.

Click the View Console option for your server and you'll see an Ubuntu desktop.

Login using your username and your password.

Option 2

Install VNC Server and access it using any VNC client.

Install tightvncserver.

apt-get install tightvncserver 

Run vncserver.

vncserver 

Set a password for your server. If you are having a problem running vncserver like Couldn't start Xtightvnc; trying default font path., install xfonts-base and re-run vncserver.

apt-get install xfonts-base 

Once vncserver starts running, you'll see a message like this one:

New 'X' desktop is yourhostname:1

Connect to your server using the VNC client.

Host: your server IP
port: 5901
password: you set for vncserver

Now you can use your server to perform tasks with the ease of a GUI.