How to Tunnel VNC Connection through SSH Using PuTTY

VNC is a protocol that allows a desktop to be viewed and controlled remotely over the Internet.

This is how to create VNC tunnel via SSH.

Requirements:

  • Ubuntu system (as VNC Server)
  • Windows system (as VNC Viewer)
  • PuTTY for Windows
  • TightVNC Viewer or RealVNC for Windows

In Ubuntu PC, install x11vnc and openssh-server:

$ sudo apt-get install x11vnc openssh-server

Make sure your firewall allowed incoming connection on port 22.

In Windows PC, download and install: PuTTY, TightVNC / RealVNC.

Run PuTTY and go to PuTTY configuration window: Connection > SSH > Tunnels.

In Tunnels section of PuTTy, type 5902 for Source port, and type localhost:5900 for Destination, then click Add.

Go back to Session section of PuTTY, type Ubuntu IP Address for Host Name (or IP address) , and type 22 for Port, then click Open.

Type in Ubuntu login name and password in PuTTY window, and then type the following line in Ubuntu shell:

$ x11vnc -safer -localhost -nopw -once -display :0

Make sure there is no error message when you run the above command.

Now leave the PuTTY window, then run TightVNC / RealVNC Viewer.

Type localhost::5902 for VNC server and press Connect.

Finish. Now you can access Ubuntu PC remotely via SSH.

Source: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VNC

3 thoughts on “How to Tunnel VNC Connection through SSH Using PuTTY

  1. resubmitted with an attempt at using markup; I hope this looks better.

    I am running ubuntu 20.04.3 on a RasPi 4B I have installed MATE desktop (desktopify) using lightdm. I have installed x11vnc. With the firewall down on the linux box my windows box can login using VNC Connect by RealVNC using the Ipaddress and port 5900 (insecure no encryption). I enable UFW with port 22 open on the linux box. Putty can still login the linux box using ipaddress, 22. So I have the port open. When I try logging into putty as an ssh tunnel things get tricky. The ssh tunnel login seems to work. Then I enter the command ‘x11vnc -safer -localhost -nopw -once -display :0’ I get the following:

    “`ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ x11vnc -safer -localhost -nopw -once -display :0
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 -safer mode:
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 vnc_connect=0
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 accept_remote_cmds=0
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 safe_remote_only=1
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 launch_gui=0
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 x11vnc version: 0.9.16 lastmod: 2019-01-05 pid: 3203
    Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key09/12/2021 12:14:26 XOpenDisplay(“:0”) failed.
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 Trying again with XAUTHLOCALHOSTNAME=localhost …
    Invalid MIT-MAGIC-COOKIE-1 key
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 ***************************************
    09/12/2021 12:14:26 *** XOpenDisplay failed (:0)
    “`

    here is a couple of commands where the output may help:

    “`
    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$
    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ echo “$DISPLAY”

    ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ echo “$XAUTHLOCALHOSTNAME”

    “`

    Can you help?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.