Off topic: remote Linux desktop

[David P]

So I have a headless Linux mini PC running SDRTrunk.  It's annoying to have to drag a monitor and a keyboard over to it to change settings.

How do y'all log in remotely to X sessions?

I've tried googling and redditting but nothing really conclusive.

Thanks!

David.

[Nick M]

TightVNC on Windows and Remote Ripple on Android have been my go-to for what seems like forever.

[Ulti P. Uzer (Brad)]

For RDP  I use a program call Stardock Multiplicity with all of the things it can do, it changed my computing life when I discovered it nearly 15 yrs ago. There are also "gray hat" ways top get it on your favorite tracker site.

[ChrisMontana]

RealVNC Lite is free and works great.

[dave38...@gmail.com]

RealVNC and TeamViewer is what I use.  Both are free.   

Not really sure why, but on my Pi 3+b I had to use a HDMI emulator.

https://www.amazon.com/Headless-Emulator-Compatible-Multiple-Resolutions/dp/B0B5XVQVJ9/ref=asc_df_B0B5XVQVJ9?mcid=3f3516256ccd32a1b7e13f9348a71495&hvocijid=12137307768589326210-B0B5XVQVJ9-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12137307768589326210&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9004514&hvtargid=pla-2281435179298&th=1

[James Cloos]

>>>>> "DP" == David P <napa...@gmail.com> writes:

DP> How do y'all log in remotely to X sessions?

if you are ssh'ing from a x11 box, using ssh's -X or -Y option will
forward the x11 protocol.

the -Y option is better if your ssh version supports it.

on systems which do not support -Y, -X does all you need.

running 'man ssh' will explain.

if you are not sitting at an x11 box, and using putty for ssh, -X might
also DoTheRightThing, iirc. (emphasis on if.)

-JimC
--
James Cloos <cl...@jhcloos.com>
OpenPGP: https://jhcloos.com/0x997A9F17ED7DAEA6.asc

[cha...@lindseyfamily.net]

Check out some of the Tiny KVM offerings. They are a little harder to get now from China. They were going for sub $50. They have a cheap chip that takes the HDMI and converts into IP packets. Along with a virtual keyboard and mouse. These have been life changing as no software is needed on the host, you can configure the host outside of the OS such as in BIOS, install OS's, anything you can imagine just as if you were sitting there. Early version had security concerns but have now been mostly worked out. Tailscale integration for easy set it up and leave it applications. 

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2024/jetkvm-tiny-ip-kvm-thats-not-apple-watch

-Chance

[Steve Ries]

What flavor of Linux?
I use a monitor dummy load on my Ubuntu systems and then turn on RDC. and just connect on 3389

[wemana...@gmail.com]

On Monday, May 19, 2025 at 7:56:32 PM UTC-4 napa...@gmail.com wrote:

So I have a headless Linux mini PC running SDRTrunk.  It's annoying to have to drag a monitor and a keyboard over to it to change settings.

How do y'all log in remotely to X sessions?

Your OPTIONS area:

1) KRFB/KRDC which are VNC's for Linux if you want the FULL DESKTOP

2) Remote X11 - CAVEAT!!! IF YOU RUN an X11 PROGRAM this way and you loose the connection the program dies too!

So if you are doing SSH -XCl or -YCl and then run sdrtrunk you loose the connection and the program dies!

ALSO NOTE !!! To run SDRT via X11 forwarding you MUST PROVIDE A  DISPLAY that like :
DISPLAY=$DISPLAY ./sdr-trunk

This ensures that the X11 is the REMOTE X11 server not the local one. This should happen, but I've had in 99.999% cases that it either attempts to run to the local :0 server and not the remote, or errors on no X11 server or you get nothing at all, but it starts, and if you have local audio you will likely hear it if you were local...

3) ONE OF THE BEST OPTIONS IS XPRA
XPRA is basically X11 Screen.

See: https://github.com/Xpra-org/xpra/

The plus here is that this allows the program to run "headless" and in the background PLUS YOU CAN FORWARD AUDIO too!

CAVEAT DO NOT USE the REPO VERSIONS of this program! THEY ARE WOEFULLY OUTDATED!  Likely won't work too well on most newer distros... Debian and its children are on 3.xx and the program is at like 5 or 6!

Additionally if you set it up, you can VIEW THIS OVER A WEB BROWSER TOO!

This is probably one of the best options there is for "remoting" to an SDRT instance.

I use this intermittently. its MY GOAL to have ALL PRODUCTION MOVE to this, but the new server build out is not complete so I am using #1 KRFB/KRDC for now.

I personally would strongly suggest looking at XPRA, especially if the box is not local to you

[Gino Guidi]

I am using NoMachine to connect to my radio box. It has been really solid and has clients for every OS out there. It is a dedicated client but has been really stable for me.

[Eric F.]

With Linux I do this using TigerVNC-viewer at the client end and x11vnc on the server end.
Tried TigerVNC server and Vino but settled on x11vnc for speed, size, & simplicity vs sufficient functionality. x11vnc uses the existing desktop and does not create a new display. This could be good or bad depending on your needs but I would expect it beneficial for most users. It supports SSL and file transfers and works with other VNC serving tools.
 
Tiger viwer is open source and runs on the big 3. Their server is Linux only (older for Windows).

TightVNC hasn't been updated in almost 20 years.

[Dean Timothy]

TightVNC is now RemoteRipple (viewer).  PC, Mac, Android, Iphone, Ipad

Dean