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NOTE: The X2Go Client is an easier alternative to VNC over SSH

This example is one method of setting up a secure VNC session tunneling over SSH. It assumes a VNC server has been installed on the remote system.

First SSH into the remote system configure the VNC session and start VNC server

• Run the command vncpasswd to create a VNC session password. It is separate than your login password, but can be set the same
  • The vncpasswd command can also change/reset an existing password
  • The vncpasswd command will create a ~/.vnc directory if it does not exist
  • If needed, edit the file ~/.vnc/xstartup

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      title xstartup example
      #!/bin/sh unset SESSION_MANAGER unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS gnome-session &

      
      

  • Start vncserver

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      title If vncserver uses systemd (example using tigervnc)
      Add user to /etc/tigervnc/vncserver.users Start vncserver for user port: sudo systemctl start vncserver@:x

      
      

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      title If vncserver does not use systemd
      Check if any VNC ports are in use using the command ‘vncserver -list’ . Any active VNC ports will be listed like :1 or :2. By default VNC runs on port in the range 590x Each VNC session runs on a unique port so to start on port 5902 use the command:  vncserver :2 -localhost NOTE: if VNC session is already running on port :2, try a higher port number like :7 or :8 The VNC server can be stopped with the command: vncserver -kill :2 The VNC session resolution can be set using the -geometry option. Stop vncserver before starting a new session. vncserver -kill :2 vncserver :2 -localhost -geometry 1280x1024

      
      

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After the vncserver is running, on the Mac open the Teminal app in the Applications → Utilities folder

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