Connecting to your Linux system from a smartphone
Keep In Touch

© Vitalik Pakhnyushchyy, 123RF
Tune in to your Linux laptop anytime from an iPhone or iPod Touch – or adapt this technique to reach your system from other mobile devices.
Like many, I have a laptop. Also like many, I have a girlfriend who wants to use my laptop, so I created an account for her in Ubuntu Jaunty; she can use the "switch user" session feature in the upper-right corner whenever she wants to log in. Now she has her desktop, and I have mine. However, sometimes I need to use the system at the same time she is logged on.
When she is using the system, I turn to my iPod Touch for computing tasks. The Touch starts faster than a conventional PC. I can check my mail, browse the web, and even play a game or two to make the time pass while she rearranges her MP3 collection. But some problems still require a full computer system. For instance, I have an account on a torrent site, and that connection must go day and night or I'll lose the account. Also, I need to convert the downloaded movies from XviD to MP4 with HandBrake, a CPU-hungry application that requires real PC hardware.
The ideal solution is to work from my iPod when I can, then connect to the laptop when necessary through a remote session using the iPod as a remote VNC client. To make this system work, I need to connect to a VNC server running in the background on the laptop – without the need for a separate SSH session to start the server manually. Also, it is important for this VNC connection to be invisible to the user logged on to the laptop – I want my own desktop, not a view of the current desktop session – and the connection must continue unhindered, even if my girlfriend switches the local desktop to her own account.
[...]
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
LibreOffice 25.2 Has Arrived
If you've been hoping for a release that offers more UI customizations, you're in for a treat.
-
TuxCare Has a Big AlmaLinux 9 Announcement in Store
TuxCare announced it has successfully completed a Security Technical Implementation Guide for AlmaLinux OS 9.
-
First Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.14 Now Available
Linus Torvalds has officially released the first release candidate for kernel 6.14 and it includes over 500,000 lines of modified code, making for a small release.
-
System76 Refreshes Meerkat Mini PC
If you're looking for a small form factor PC powered by Linux, System76 has exactly what you need in the Meerkat mini PC.
-
Gnome 48 Alpha Ready for Testing
The latest Gnome desktop alpha is now available with plenty of new features and improvements.
-
Wine 10 Includes Plenty to Excite Users
With its latest release, Wine has the usual crop of bug fixes and improvements, along with some exciting new features.
-
Linux Kernel 6.13 Offers Improvements for AMD/Apple Users
The latest Linux kernel is now available, and it includes plenty of improvements, especially for those who use AMD or Apple-based systems.
-
Gnome 48 Debuts New Audio Player
To date, the audio player found within the Gnome desktop has been meh at best, but with the upcoming release that all changes.
-
Plasma 6.3 Ready for Public Beta Testing
Plasma 6.3 will ship with KDE Gear 24.12.1 and KDE Frameworks 6.10, along with some new and exciting features.
-
Budgie 10.10 Scheduled for Q1 2025 with a Surprising Desktop Update
If Budgie is your desktop environment of choice, 2025 is going to be a great year for you.