How to Set Up a GUI on a VM with Linux on EO-Lab

Desktop environments for Linux allow you to perform any action related to your operating system in a visual way. Its purpose is to supply a complete suite in terms of look, functionality, and usability.

Installing a GUI for basic Ubuntu images requires a tasksel installation. We have prepared two environments that interact well with the recommended visual remote desktop application -x2GO.

This tutorial will use a machine with preinstalled Ubuntu 20.04.

1. Mate

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install tasksel
sudo reboot
sudo tasksel install ubuntu-mate-desktop

Theme for Mate:

../_images/scrn1.png

2. XFCE

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install tasksel
sudo reboot
sudo tasksel install xubuntu-desktop

Theme for XFCE:

../_images/scrn2.png

What is X2GO?

X2GO is one of the many solutions for Remote Desktop that works well with both low and high bandwith. For more information, please refer to the official documentation: https://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:newtox2go

X2GO configuration

Using the console within the Horizon Dashboard may result in bad optimization and an unsynchronized cursor. To improve the whole setup we can install X2GO server on the virtual machine and X2GO client on the computer used to connect to our instance.

Operations on the virtual machine:

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:x2go/stable
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install x2goserver x2goserver-xsession

Operations on the client side:

sudo apt-get install x2goclient

We are now ready to initialize our first session. Launch the X2GO application and have a look at the prompted window:

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Fill out the required fields:

  • host: IP of the virtual machine

  • Login: eouser (account for ssh connection)

  • SSH port 22 (by default)

  • Session type: in this case MATE or XFCE (depending on what we installed)

  • RSA/DSA key for ssh connection: Directory of our private key

Click on “OK”

Notice a rectangle with curved edges on your right side. Click on it.

../_images/scrn4.png

If everything from the previous step was entered correctly, you will encounter a window with the message: Established X server connection. A few seconds later you should have visual access to your virtual machine.