Installing desktop, Firefox, Flash Player and TightVNC on Ubuntu Server/Debian

The task is: to install a desktop environment on VPS server (low-end box) with Firefox browser, Adobe Flash Player and TightVNC remote control. Working in a "I'm-no-geek" mode. OS: Debian or Ubuntu.

Note: if you're using Debian, don't use sudo in the commands below.

0. Preparation

1. For Ubuntu: open /etc/apt/sources.list and enable multiverse repository by just adding ' multiverse' to the end of each line.


2. sudo apt-get update

We can choose from different window managers.
Note: later you'll be prompted like this:

I've selected defaults.

1.a. ubuntu-desktop (all-in-one command, memory consuming)

sudo apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop

The first time I tried to install ubuntu-desktop I didn't use --no-install-recommends parameter, so I couldn't even launch System Monitor -- the system couldn't allocate memory.
This is not an option for a low-end box.

1.b. fluxbox (light-weight option)

sudo apt-get install -y xorg fluxbox

1.c. IceWM

sudo apt-get install -y xorg icewm

Installed IceWM running on Debian box.

1.d. Openbox

sudo apt-get install -y xorg openbox

По правому клику выпадает меню. Чтобы иметь возможность его настраивать установите obmenu (впрочем, это необязательно/optional):

sudo apt-get install -y obmenu

Themes (optional):

sudo apt-get install -y openbox-themes obconf

Download themes to ~/themes then right-click desktop and select ObConf.

Panel (optional).
Gnome panel:

sudo apt-get install -y gnome-panel

Или fbpanel:

sudo apt-get install -y fbpanel

Обои на рабочий стол (в параметрах передается путь к картинке):

sudo apt-get install hsetroot && hsetroot -full /root/wallpapers/wallpaper.jpg

2. TightVNC Server

Install TightVNC server:

sudo apt-get install -y tightvncserver

Start TightVNC server:

vncserver -geometry 800x600 -depth 16

Autostart TightVNC Server:

echo "@reboot root /usr/bin/vncserver -geometry 800x600 -depth 16 2>/dev/null" >> /etc/crontab

(didn't work for me...)

Now you can connect to your server with VNC Viewer. If you don't know which port to connect to, check netstat:

netstat -a

Usually it's 5901.

I mean "your server IP goes here", not home IP.

3.1. Firefox

Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install -y firefox

Debian:

apt-get install -y iceweasel

3.2. Adobe Flash Player to Firefox

Gonna need cURL library:

sudo apt-get install -y curl

On Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install -y flashplugin-nonfree

On Debian:

apt-get install -y flashplugin-nonfree

On Ubuntu (easy non-console way):
Launch Firefox (open console/terminal, type "firefox" and hit Enter), go to Youtube.

Screenshot by captain obvious:
And here we go:


Useful links:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/LowMemorySystems
http://knol.google.com/k/ubuntu-minimal-desktop-installation-guide
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-install-gui-in-ubuntu-10-04-lucid-lynx-server.html