vincentkong.com

Unlike like Ubuntu’s default file manager Nautilus for the GNOME desktop, the default file manager Thunar from Xubuntu doesn’t support samba/network browsing.

Nautilus Share

An easy workaround is to install the Nautilus Share package. When installing the Nautilus Share package other related Nautilus packages which will also included such as the Nautilus file manager which may be used to replace the Thunar file manager.

To install Nautilus Share:

$ sudo apt-get install nautilus-share

SMB for FUSE

A more complex workaround is to use SMB for FUSE packages and will allow you to keep using Thunar.

1. The first requirement is to have Samba installed, an easy to tigger the install is by going to the following in the Xfce desktop: Applications -> System -> Shared Folders
2. Install fusesmb:
   $ sudo apt-get install fusesmb
3. Ensure that fuse module will be loaded at boot time
   $ sudo nano /etc/modules
   and look for fuse in the list
4. Reboot the server to load the fuse module
5. Allow users to use fuse:
   • Go to Application -> System -> Users and Groups
   • Click on the “Properties” button of the username
   • Under the “User Privileges” tab check the “Allow use of fuse fileystems like LTSP Thin Client blockdevices” checkbox
6. Create a directory with the following settings to mount the network browse to:
   $ mkdir /media/network
$ chmod 777 /media/network
$ chgrp fuse /media/network
7. Add your user account to the fuse group
   $ nano /etc/group
   or go to Application -> System -> Users and Groups, and click on the “Manage Groups” button
8. Reboot the server again
9. Go to to menu Application -> Settings -> Autostarted Applications, and add a new entry with the following command: /usr/bin/fusesmb /media/network
10. Open Thunar and add parent folder of the mount point e.g. network to the shortcut pane of Thunar
11. Logout and log back to enable to fusesmb autostart to take effect.

Troubleshooting

Can’t see a new shared computer or folder in Thunar.

• In the terminal type the following to refresh fusesmb
$ fusesmb.cache

Unlike remote desktop in Ubuntu, Xubuntu doesn’t come with a default VNC server. To allow for remote desktop I installed x11vnc which allows remote access to an existing X server session. The advantage is that it allows you to view the phyical display remotely and also log-in to a new session using a remote VNC client.

Installing a VNC Server

Install the x11vnc package

$ sudo apt-get install x11vnc

Install the xinetd package

$ sudo apt-get install xinetd

Add the x11vnc service to xinetd

$ sudo nano /etc/xinetd.d/x11vnc

Add the following content in the file:

service x11vnc
{
port = 5900
type = UNLISTED
socket_type = stream
protocol = tcp
wait = no
user = root
server = /usr/bin/x11vnc
server_args = -inetd -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -display :0 -auth /var/lib/gdm/:0.Xauth -many -bg
disable = no
}

Restart the xinetd
$ sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd stop
$ sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd start

Creating a Password for the VNC Server

Install the vnc-common package
$ sudo apt-get install vnc-common

Create a password file
$ sudo vncpasswd /root/.vncpasswd

Add the -rfbauth /root/.vncpasswd option to server_args in the /etc/xinetd.d/x11vnc file. For example:

server_args = -inetd -o /var/log/x11vnc.log -display :0 -auth /var/lib/gdm/:0.Xauth -many -bg -rfbauth /root/.vncpasswd

Restart the xinetd

$ sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd stop
$ sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd start

Connecting with a VNC Client

To connect to your remote desktop any VNC viewer can be installed. For example RealVNC or TightVNC (requires VNC password to be implemented) provides a free edition client.