SSH
VNC using an SSH Tunnel
To start the VNC server type:
$ vncserver user$ vncserver xauth: file /home/user/.Xauthority does not exist New 'example.com:1 (user)' desktop is example.com:1 Creating default startup script /home/user/.vnc/xstartup Creating default config /home/user/.vnc/config Starting applications specified in /home/user/.vnc/xstartup Log file is /home/user/.vnc/example.com:1.log
Your VNC port number will be 5900+<number_after_the_colon>.
In this case your port would be 5901.
To create the SSH Tunnel type:
$ ssh -L <local_port>:localhost:<remote_port> -f -N -C user@example.com
In this case it would be:
$ ssh -L <port_of_your_choosing>:localhost:5901 -f -N -C user@example.com
Using PuTTY
First start a new SSH connection to your server host and log in.
![](https://ircnow.org/uploads/TigerVNC/putty_change_settings.png)
Then, left click on the program icon in the top bar -> Change Settings -> Connection -> SSH -> Tunnels.
![](https://ircnow.org/uploads/TigerVNC/putty_ssh_tunnels.png)
Source port: <local_port>
Destination: localhost:<remote_port> (localhost here represents the remote host)
Keep the Local and Auto radio buttons selected and click on Add.
Connect to localhost:<local_port> using a VNC Client.
It may still show the warning saying "Uncrypted Connection" in the VNC Client when connecting to localhost:<port> since it isn't aware of the SSH Tunnel.