Browse - Computer Tips - How can I get a GUI on a headless Linux server?

Date: 2015oct24
Updated: 2016sep8
OS: Windows
Keywords: VNC, TeamViewer, X

Q.  How can I get a GUI on a headless Linux server?

A.  On your Windows computer:

Install cygwin with packages
xorg-server
xinit
ssh

Start the cygwin shell

Modify /etc/X11/system.Xwinrc so it has:
menu apps {
	xterm exec xterm
	...
}

menu root {
	"Applications" menu apps
	...
}

From the cygwin shell run:
xwin					

Then right click on the X11 icon on your tray and run xterm

In xterm:

ssh -Y <userid>@<linux-server>

Then you can try starting an entire session:

mate-session &

If that doesn't work you can run individual GUI applications - eg:

nautilus &
firefox &
gnome-disks &
system-config-networking &

I much prefer the GUI of gnome-disks over non-GUI gdisk.