ok so I want to use something like VNC or RDP to connect to my Ubuntu 12.04 14.04 LTS server after it has booted up and is displaying a login prompt without having to go to the console and actually log in at the console first. I don't need to see the login screen that the console displays, but once it connects I'd like to be able to use the full desktop GUI.

This will be for admin management of the server, so it is ok if there is a single user/password for this access. It doesn't need to provide multiple concurrent access either, though that would be nice.

The machine was installed choosing "minimal" then running the commands

sudo apt-get install aptitude

sudo aptitude install screen openssh-server

sudo aptitude install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop landscape-client-ui-install

sudo aptitude install indicator-application indicator-appmenu indicator-datetime indicator-session indicator-sound unity-lens-applications unity-lens-files xdg-utils

Now what?

I've tried

• vino (aka "Desktop Sharing") seems to require that someone already be logged in to the server before it can be used.


• tightvncserver says it can be run from the command line, but I must have been doing it wrong.


• xrdp looks promising but just presents me with a blank window instead of a desktop when I log in


• x11vnc with xvfb is complex and I only managed to create a VNC session from the ssh console of a terminal console.

Again, I seem to be missing something as there surely is a way, and possibly with the tools I've already tried.