Running VNC Server without XServer on Ubuntu

What we want to do is to install VNC Server (which is about 45MB) without install the whole gnome environment. Such a vnc server can be started at boot time and serve as a XFCE or Fluxbox desktop with single user.

Install basic gnome environment (or any other lightweight):

?> apt-get install gnome-core

install vnc server:

?> apt-get install vnc4server

run the server to set password:

?> vncserver -geometry 1280x1024 -depth 24 :0

kill the server:

?> vncserver -kill :0

edit ~/.vnc/xstartup file:

change x-window-manager & in the end to:

gnome-session &

start the server:

?> vncserver -geometry 1280x1024 -depth 24 :0