I'm new to Linux and a bit confused about using the GUI. I have a couple of questions:
1. When I create a virtual machine (VM) and load an ISO, I can use both the terminal and the GUI.
2. However, if I pay for a Digital Ocean server and SSH into it using PuTTY, I find I don't have any GUI access.
Could someone explain why I can't SSH into a server and use the GUI? I tried following instructions to install a slim graphical interface on Ubuntu, but nothing happened. Do I need to physically own the machine, or is it enough to just have a VM?
3 Answers
For using graphical interfaces, you need to enable X forwarding with the -X option if your local system runs X (like Linux), or set up a VNC server on your remote machine, then connect using a VNC client. X for Windows is an option too, but VNC is usually easier for Windows users.
You can use X forwarding or a service like VNC to access a graphical user interface on a remote server without needing to own a physical server. You don't have to be the owner to run GUI applications remotely!
When you SSH, it primarily streams text, which is why you can't access the GUI directly. It's like trying to share an image over text message instead of sending a picture file. If you want GUI access, consider using something like x2goserver and x2goclient for a smoother experience!
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