ubuntu_docker

Ubuntu Desktop Sandbox (Docker + VNC + noVNC)

A headless Ubuntu 24.04 container with an XFCE desktop, TigerVNC, and a noVNC web client. Open a full desktop in the browser at http://localhost:6901/vnc.html.

Quick Start

cp .env.example .env    # set VNC_PASSWORD (and optionally RESOLUTION)
docker compose up -d --build

Then open http://localhost:6901/vnc.html and log in:

• Username: ubuntu
• Password: the value of VNC_PASSWORD from your .env

Configuration

Variables are read from .env (see .env.example):

Variable	Default	Description
VNC_PASSWORD	changeme	Login password for the ubuntu user
RESOLUTION	1280x800	Desktop geometry

The container starts with a warning if VNC_PASSWORD is still changeme. Set it before using the box.

Common Commands

docker compose up -d --build   # build and start
docker compose logs -f         # follow container logs
docker exec -it xubuntu_sandbox bash   # shell inside the desktop
docker compose stop            # stop (keeps volume)
docker compose down -v         # stop and delete the persistent volume

Ports

Port	Service
6901	noVNC web client (browser access)
5901	TigerVNC (raw VNC, for native clients)

How It Works

• Desktop: XFCE4 on Ubuntu 24.04, started by scripts/xstartup via dbus-launch.
• VNC server: TigerVNC on display :1. This build does not ship vncpasswd, so it uses VNC's Plain security type and authenticates against the Unix ubuntu account via PAM — which is why the login password is set with chpasswd from VNC_PASSWORD at container start (scripts/entrypoint.sh).
• Web access: noVNC is served by websockify on port 6901, proxying to the VNC server.
• Persistence: the named volume xubuntu_home is mounted at /home/ubuntu, so your files, installed packages, and settings survive container rebuilds. (The VNC password is not persisted — it is reapplied from VNC_PASSWORD on every start.)
• The ubuntu user has passwordless sudo.

Files

Dockerfile          Ubuntu 24.04 + XFCE + TigerVNC + noVNC
docker-compose.yml  Service definition (ports, volume, env)
scripts/entrypoint.sh  Sets password, starts VNC + websockify
scripts/xstartup        XFCE session launcher for VNC
.env.example        Default configuration