Setting up vnc for ubuntu desktop

If your installation is ubuntu desktop and you need to remote it using vnc, the steps below might help you to do it:
1. Update your package list
sudo apt-get update

2. Install Gnome desktop environment essential component and Gnome session manager
sudo apt-get install gnome-core gnome-session-fallback

3. Install vnc server
sudo apt-get install vnc4server

4. Start the vnc server
vncserver 
Note: find out the console port being assigned to you. There is a way to start up the connection with a pre defined port number (e.g. vncserver :1)

Example: the assigned port is 1 (5901)

New 'server:1 (server)' desktop is server:1

Starting applications specified in /home/user/.vnc/xstartup

Log file is /home/user/.vnc/user:1.log

5. Edit the xstartup file located /home/user/.vnc/ as below.

At first, when you open the vnc connection there will be only a terminal. You will need to start the gnome-session for the vnc connection.

#!/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-session --session=gnome-classic &

6. Restart the vncserver by killing it first then starting it up again

vncserver -kill :1

To access vnc from the client, you need to install vnc viewer app. 

The sample url for vnc: server_url:5901

the port number is assigned when you start the vnc connection.

Up to now, for ubuntu server I use Xfce desktop environment instead of gnome. It is lightweight and somehow I still can't setup the gnome env under vnc :)

Reference link:
http://coddswallop.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin-complete-vnc-server-setup/