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How To Enable Desktop Sharing In Ubuntu and Linux Mint?
Desktop sharing or remote desktop access is a useful feature that allows you to access another computer or device from your own system. This feature is particularly useful when you need to provide technical assistance to someone who is not physically present with you. Ubuntu and Linux Mint are two popular Linux distributions that come with desktop sharing features pre-installed. In this article, we will discuss how to enable desktop sharing in Ubuntu and Linux Mint.
Enabling Desktop Sharing in Ubuntu
Ubuntu comes with a built-in desktop sharing feature called "Vino". Vino allows you to share your desktop with other users on your local network. Here are the steps to enable desktop sharing in Ubuntu −
Step 1 − Open the "Settings" application from the dash or by pressing the "Super" key (Windows key) and searching for "Settings".
Step 2 − In the "Settings" application, go to the "Sharing" section.
Step 3 − In the "Sharing" section, toggle on the "Screen Sharing" option.
Step 4 − You can configure additional settings such as password protection and whether or not to allow remote control.
Step 5 − Once you have configured the settings, you can share your desktop by giving the other person your IP address and the password (if you set one).
Enabling Desktop Sharing in Linux Mint
Linux Mint also comes with a built-in desktop sharing feature called "Vino". Here are the steps to enable desktop sharing in Linux Mint −
Step 1 − Open the "System Settings" application from the menu or by pressing the "Super" key (Windows key) and searching for "System Settings".
Step 2 − In the "System Settings" application, go to the "Desktop Sharing" section.
Step 3 − In the "Desktop Sharing" section, toggle on the "Sharing" option.
Step 4 − You can configure additional settings such as password protection and whether or not to allow remote control.
Step 5 − Once you have configured the settings, you can share your desktop by giving the other person your IP address and the password (if you set one).
While desktop sharing is a useful feature, it is important to note that it can also be a security risk if not used properly. Therefore, it is recommended to use desktop sharing only with trusted users and to use strong passwords to protect your desktop sharing session.
Additionally, there are other desktop sharing software options available for Ubuntu and Linux Mint, such as "TeamViewer" and "AnyDesk". These software options offer additional features and capabilities beyond the built-in desktop sharing features, such as file transfer and remote printing. However, these options may not be open-source and may come with a cost.
Another important consideration when using desktop sharing in Ubuntu and Linux Mint is firewall settings. By default, Ubuntu and Linux Mint have the UFW firewall enabled, which may block incoming desktop sharing requests. If you are having trouble connecting to a remote system using desktop sharing, it may be necessary to configure the firewall settings to allow the necessary ports.
To allow desktop sharing through the UFW firewall in Ubuntu, you can use the following command −
sudo ufw allow 5900/tcp
This command will allow incoming desktop sharing requests on port 5900, which is the default port used by the Vino desktop sharing feature.
In Linux Mint, the firewall settings can be configured through the "Firewall Configuration" tool, which can be found in the "Administration" menu.
Another consideration when enabling desktop sharing in Ubuntu and Linux Mint is the type of session you want to share. By default, the desktop sharing feature in these Linux distributions shares the entire desktop session. However, it is also possible to share individual windows or applications.
To share an individual window or application in Ubuntu, you can use the following steps
Open the application or window you want to share.
Open the "Screen Sharing" settings.
Change the "Desktop Sharing" option to "Window Sharing".
Click the "Select Window" button and select the window or application you want to share.
To share an individual window or application in Linux Mint, you can use the following steps
Open the application or window you want to share.
Open the "Desktop Sharing" settings.
Change the "Desktop Sharing" option to "Application Sharing".
Click the "Select Application" button and select the window or application you want to share.
Sharing individual windows or applications can be useful when you only need to share a specific part of your desktop session. This can help to reduce network bandwidth and improve performance when working remotely.
Conclusion
Enabling desktop sharing in Ubuntu and Linux Mint is a straightforward process. Both distributions come with built-in desktop sharing features that are easy to configure. Desktop sharing is a useful feature that can save time and effort when providing technical assistance or working remotely.
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