You may install the default Ubuntu Desktop on Ubuntu Server 14.04 with the following procedure.
Installing Ubuntu Desktop
> Please Log in to your Ubuntu Server 14.04 and run the update,
sudo apt-get update
> Please install Ubuntu Desktop without other packages,
sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop
> Please reboot Ubuntu server,
sudo reboot
> Install other packages,
sudo apt-get -y install gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon metacity nautilus gnome-terminal
Installing VNC Server
> Please use the following command to install VNC Server.
sudo apt-get -y install vnc4server
> Please go to /home/administrator/.vnc/ folder and create/modify xstartup,
cd .vnc
vi xstartup
> Please place the following content to xstartup,
#!/bin/sh
# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
# unset SESSION_MANAGER
# exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
x-terminal-emulator -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
x-window-manager &
gnome-panel &
gnome-settings-daemon &
metacity &
nautilus &
> Create VNC session automatically when the system is rebooted,
crontab -e
- Add the following content,
@reboot /usr/bin/vncserver :1 -geometry 1024x768
- The resolution can be changed according to the resolution of your monitor.
> Please Run VNC command to create a password,
vncserver
- You will be asked for providing the password. Simply type your password following the command. At this moment, you may connect the server via a VNC client.
> Please reboot the server (Optional)
sudo reboot
- When the server is rebooted, a VNC session will start up automatically. Simply connect the server via VNC client. The session number will be 1. Use 'IP-Address:1' as VNC Server name when opening VNC client.
