How do i set up a remote desktop?

[jklslvch]

hey i installed vector linux SOHO on a friends comp and sometimes he needs certain packages or programs installed so instead of going over there and helping him out how would i access his computer from mine? I have SOHO installed too is there a program already included that will help me do this and a little basic setup help would be nice too.

And is there any good remote console like a trojan or something because my computer isnt all that new and the internet is pretty slow so maybe the graphical remote desktop thing might be really choppy.

[Joe1962]

You can set up the ssh server in VL (sshd) and access it with the ssh client (ssh). If you want to try graphical, KDE has a built in remote desktop server and client, look for it on the menu. You might need to set up the server part in the KDE Control Panel, don't remember any more, used this a long time ago. I mostly use ssh now and you can set up sshd to allow user/password login, or by private/public keys. Just google for "linux sshd howto" (without the quotes) and you'll some good guides.

EDIT: forgot to add that you can have X session forwarding over ssh too.

[M0E-lnx]

I've found VNC to be faster than X11 over ssh though.. Vnc is easy to setup too..

[newt]

I've found VNC to be faster than X11 over ssh though.. Vnc is easy to setup too..

Just curious, is that "VNC over ssh" vs "X11 over ssh", or "unencrypted VNC" vs "X11 over ssh"?  I've often wondered if X11 over ssh would be quicker than VNC over ssh since it's passing a single window rather than an entire desktop, AND only has to repaint the window rather than the entire desktop.  I'm just curious because I've never attempted gui remote control over ssh - I'm usually plain ssh or plain/unencrypted vnc.

[Triarius Fidelis]

Well, you have to consider that VNC was (well-)designed specifically for its purpose.

X is old, tends to generate a lot of traffic and is, indeed, kind of inefficient.

[M0E-lnx]

I use unencrypted vnc, I tried X11 over ssh, which is really slow...

[newt]

I guess I'll stick with vnc for gui purposes and ssh for cli purposes.  Thanks for the insight.
Cheers!!

[bigpaws]

I prefer ssh without X, fast on any connection if both hosts are linux.

When using VNC and such with slow connections then working can
take sometime.

Bigpaws