helping a new Ubuntu user

[NoOp]

On 11/13/2008 09:34 AM, norman wrote:
> My brother is in the process of converting from Windows to Ubuntu and is
> quite computerate. However, I am expected to be the fount of all
> knowledge about Ubuntu whereas I am really pretty ignorant. The
> difficulty is that we are several hundred kilometres apart and sometimes
> it is quite difficult to visualise what he is seeing on his monitor from
> his descriptions. It would be most useful if I were able to see his
> monitor screen and I wondered if this were possible for a relative
> rookie like me.
> 
> There must be lots of you who have had similar problems and I would
> welcome any useful advice you can pass to me. Who knows, if I am
> successful in converting my brother to Ubuntu others in the family may
> follow.
> 
> Norman
> 
> 

Have him enable 'Remote Desktop': System|Preferences|Remote Desktop

Set/check as follows:

- Allow other users to view your desktop
- Allow other users to control your desktop
- Ask you for confirmation
- Require the user to enter this password

Make sure that he sets a good password (8 or more characters w/mixed
upper & lower case + numerals). I would also recommend that he change
the default VNC port from 5900 to something else - perhaps 105900 (it's
under the 'Advanced' tab.

He will also need to ensure that his firewall settings allow the connection.

On your system:

sudo apt-get install xtightvncviewer xvnc4viewer

>From your side to log in:

1. Have him open up a browser and go to http://whatsmyip.org and then
tell you the IP address that shows at the top of the screen.

2. Open the terminal server client: Applications|Internet|Terminal
Server Client

- Computer: his IP address & port number, example
	222.222.222.222:10590
- Protocol: VNC

3. Click the 'Connect' button. You should then get a password prompt:
enter the password that he set.

4. A popup will now appear on _his_ desktop saying:

Another user is trying to view your desktop
etc.
Do you want to allow them to do so?

Once he clicks "Allow", you should be in.