Turning Ubuntu 12.10 minimal into a VirtualBox 4.2 host with a lightweight and secure GUI

28 November 2012 1 min read

Prerequisites: Ubuntu 12.10 minimal installed and ssh connections are allowed.

Install Oracle VirtualBox (NB! Be patient as many dependencies will also be installed):

echo "deb  [http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian(link is external)](http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian)  $(lsb_release -sc) contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/virtualbox.list
wget -q  [http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian/oracle_vbox.asc(link is external)](http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian/oracle_vbox.asc)  -O- | sudo apt-key add -**
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install virtualbox-4.2

Install Xfce as a minimal Ubuntu desktop (NB! Be patient as many dependencies will also be installed):

sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop

Install and configure Vnc for remote control:

sudo apt-get install vnc4server

Configure Vnc to start Xfce as desktop (file ~/.vnc/xstartup):

#!/bin/sh  
xrdb $HOME/.Xresources 
xsetroot -solid grey 
startxfce4

Start vncserver manually (You will need to supply a connection password at the first time, adjust geometry according to your needs):

vncserver -geometry 1440x900

Extend your Putty configuration with a local forwarded tunnel allowing connections to port 5901 representing X-display 1 (we use localport 6000 in the example)

Initiate a Vnc Session ((TightVnc viewer as example)

The result is a Ubuntu Virtual Box host managable via a secured lightweight GUI