this stuff is not well documented, nor easy to set up. buddha please save me.
+++ /dev/null
-#!/bin/sh
-
-# set up gnome desktop environment for vnc.
-
-# references:
-# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-setup-vnc-for-ubuntu-12
-# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/how-to-install-ubuntu-desktop-and-vnc
-# https://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/5.2/Virtualization/sect-Virtualization-Tips_and_tricks-Configuring_a_VNC_Server.html
-# https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1903220
-# https://askubuntu.com/questions/800302/vncserver-grey-screen-ubuntu-16-04-lts
-
-[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
-[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
-
-xsetroot -solid darkgreen
-vncconfig -iconic &
-
-#######
-gnome-session --session=ubuntu &
-#valid values for session that we've seen:
-# ubuntu
-# gnome
-# 2d-gnome (?)
-# unity
-#######
-
-x-terminal-emulator -geometry 100x32 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
-
-#######
-# are these alternatives also?
-x-session-manager &
-#x-window-manager &
-#######
-
-gnome-panel &
-#gnome-settings-daemon &
-#gnome-shell &
-
-# one or the other of the window managers here.
-#hmmm: but mutter doesn't work at all.
-metacity &
-#mutter &
-
-nautilus &
-
--- /dev/null
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# set up gnome desktop environment for vnc.
+
+# references:
+# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-setup-vnc-for-ubuntu-12
+# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/how-to-install-ubuntu-desktop-and-vnc
+# https://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/5.2/Virtualization/sect-Virtualization-Tips_and_tricks-Configuring_a_VNC_Server.html
+# https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1903220
+# https://askubuntu.com/questions/800302/vncserver-grey-screen-ubuntu-16-04-lts
+
+[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
+[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
+
+xsetroot -solid darkgreen
+vncconfig -iconic &
+
+#######
+gnome-session --session=ubuntu &
+#valid values for session that we've seen:
+# ubuntu
+# gnome
+# 2d-gnome (?)
+# unity
+#######
+
+x-terminal-emulator -geometry 100x32 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
+
+#######
+# are these alternatives also?
+x-session-manager &
+#x-window-manager &
+#######
+
+gnome-panel &
+#gnome-settings-daemon &
+#gnome-shell &
+
+# one or the other of the window managers here.
+#hmmm: but mutter doesn't work at all.
+metacity &
+#mutter &
+
+nautilus &
+
--- /dev/null
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# set up gnome desktop environment for vnc.
+
+# references:
+# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-setup-vnc-for-ubuntu-12
+# https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/how-to-install-ubuntu-desktop-and-vnc
+# https://www.centos.org/docs/5/html/5.2/Virtualization/sect-Virtualization-Tips_and_tricks-Configuring_a_VNC_Server.html
+# https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1903220
+# https://askubuntu.com/questions/800302/vncserver-grey-screen-ubuntu-16-04-lts
+
+[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
+[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
+
+xsetroot -solid darkgreen
+vncconfig -iconic &
+
+#######
+gnome-session --session=ubuntu &
+#valid values for session that we've seen:
+# ubuntu
+# gnome
+# 2d-gnome (?)
+# unity
+#######
+
+x-terminal-emulator -geometry 100x32 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &
+
+#######
+# are these alternatives also?
+x-session-manager &
+#x-window-manager &
+#######
+
+gnome-terminal-server &
+
+#gnome-settings-daemon &
+#gnome-shell &
+
+# we don't see this running at home, but it sure seems needed on vmbuilder.
+gnome-panel &
+
+#######
+# one or the other of the window managers here.
+#hmmm: but mutter doesn't work at all.
+metacity &
+#mutter --replace &
+#######
+
+nautilus &
+
+# experimental additions since still getting lots of weird isssues:
+indicator-multiload &
+compiz &
+gnome-keyring-daemon &
+ibus-daemon &
+zeitgeist-daemon &
+
+# just nice to have started already.
+kwalletd &
+
+
+