Install a vnc server

sudo apt-get install vnc4server

Then set the password:

vncpasswd

If you want to 'see' your own or someone else's screen, install a viewer:

sudo apt-get install vncviewer

Start the server on "screen 1":

 vncserver -geometry 800x600 :1

You can change the "geometry" to whatever you like.

To stop the vnc server, remember the command:

  vncserver -kill :1

 

where the ":1" is the 'screen or display.'  It corresponds to port 5901.  :2 would refer to 5902 and so on.

vncserver -kill :2

To check what's running try:

ps aux | grep vnc

 

To see your own shared screen, type:

vncviewer localhost:1

This is quite unsatisfying, but now you can have multiple people look at the same screen.  To let other people see your screen you can have them ssh in, or you can port forward port 5901 to that linux machine.

 

The default gives you kind of a nothing screen with just a terminal.  If your screen looks "bad," follow the instructions below based on what you're running. 

MATE

 To get mate to show up use the follow text in your

~.vnc/xstartup file:

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
mate-session &

 

Restart your vnc server and retry to connect.

 

 

vncserver -kill :1

 

Cinnamon

If you're running Cinnamon try this in your xstartup file:

 

#!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
#sh /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc

xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
#xsetroot -solid grey
x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
#x-window-manager &
# Fix to make GNOME work
export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
#/etc/X11/Xsession
#exec /usr/bin/gnome-session --session=gnome-classic &
gnome-session --session=gnome-fallback &