Setting up static IP in Ubuntu and autostarting vncserver

$sudo nano /etc/networks/interfaces

Edit this file and change the ip/netmask/gateway and dns as per your network.

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.178
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 8.8.8.8 192.168.1.1

Restart networking service.

$ sudo service networking stop
$ sudo service networking start


Auto starting vnc server - http://askubuntu.com/questions/120973/how-do-i-start-vnc-server-on-boot

1. First, install the TightVNC server sudo apt-get install tightvncserver.
2. Set up the VNC server for the user you wish to log in as. When you run "vncserver" for the first time, it will ask you to set a password. only allow SSH tunnelled or VPN connections. To launch programs or a session when your VNC session starts, modify ~/.vnc/xstartup. Here is an example.

   #!/bin/sh
   
   xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
   xsetroot -solid black
   /opt/azureus/azureus &
   k3b &
   icewm-session &
   

3. Copy the following into /etc/init.d/vncserver. The easiest way to do it is to copy it to your clipboard, run sudo -i && cat > /etc/init.d/vncserver && exit in a terminal, paste it in, and type CTRL-D. Be sure to change the USER variable to whatever user you want the VNC server to run under.

   #!/bin/sh -e
   ### BEGIN INIT INFO
   # Provides:          vncserver
   # Required-Start:    networking
   # Default-Start:     3 4 5
   # Default-Stop:      0 6
   ### END INIT INFO
   
   PATH="$PATH:/usr/X11R6/bin/"
   
   # The Username:Group that will run VNC
   export USER="mythtv"
   #${RUNAS}
   
   # The display that VNC will use
   DISPLAY="1"
   
   # Color depth (between 8 and 32)
   DEPTH="16"
   
   # The Desktop geometry to use.
   #GEOMETRY="x"
   #GEOMETRY="800x600"
   GEOMETRY="1024x768"
   #GEOMETRY="1280x1024"
   
   # The name that the VNC Desktop will have.
   NAME="my-vnc-server"
   
   OPTIONS="-name ${NAME} -depth ${DEPTH} -geometry ${GEOMETRY} :${DISPLAY}"
   
   . /lib/lsb/init-functions
   
   case "$1" in
   start)
   log_action_begin_msg "Starting vncserver for user '${USER}' on   localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver ${OPTIONS}"
   ;;
   
   stop)
   log_action_begin_msg "Stoping vncserver for user '${USER}' on localhost:${DISPLAY}"
   su ${USER} -c "/usr/bin/vncserver -kill :${DISPLAY}"
   ;;
   
   restart)
   $0 stop
   $0 start
   ;;
   esac
   
   exit 0
   

4. Make the script executable with sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/vncserver.
5. Finally, connect to your server with a VNC client on port 590X, where X is the value of "DISPLAY" in the vncserver script. On OS X, I like to use Chicken of the VNC. On Windows and Linux, the TightVNC client works nicely.