How To Fix VNC Server Startup Timeout Error in Ubuntu 20.04

In this article, we will guide you through a step-by-step process on how to fix the VNC Server startup timeout error in Ubuntu 20.04. This error is often encountered when starting the VNC server after a power outage or a system crash. We will provide detailed explanations of the commands used and their parameters to help you understand the process better.

Understanding the Issue

When you start the VNC server and encounter a timeout error, it usually means that the server is unable to start within the default time limit set by the system. The error messages may look something like this:

Error executing command as another user: Not authorized
start operation timed out

These messages indicate two issues: an authorization problem and a timeout problem.

Fixing the Authorization Issue

The Error executing command as another user: Not authorized message suggests an authorization problem. This can be fixed by modifying the sudoers file to allow the sudo command to be executed without a password.

Steps to Fix Authorization Issue

1. Open a terminal and run the command sudo visudo. This command opens the sudoers file in a safe way for editing.
2. Look for the line that starts with %sudo and ensure it includes the option NOPASSWD:ALL. It should look like %sudo ALL=(ALL:ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL. This line allows members of the sudo group to execute any command as any user without requiring a password.
3. Save the file and exit. In most editors, you can do this by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y to confirm saving, and finally Enter to confirm the file name.
4. Restart the VNC server using sudo systemctl start vncserver@:1.service and check if the issue is resolved.

Fixing the Timeout Issue

The start operation timed out message indicates a timeout problem. This can be fixed by increasing the startup time limit for the VNC server.

Steps to Fix Timeout Issue

1. Open a terminal and run the command sudo systemctl edit vncserver@:1.service. This command opens an override file for the vncserver service in an editor.
2. Add the following lines to the editor that opens:

   [Service]
   TimeoutSec=300

   The TimeoutSec parameter sets the time limit for starting the service. In this case, we are setting it to 300 seconds.
3. Save the file and exit.
4. Restart the VNC server using sudo systemctl start vncserver@:1.service and check if the issue is resolved.

Checking Logs for More Information

If the above solutions do not resolve the issue, it might be helpful to check the logs for more information. You can do this using the journalctl command.

Steps to Check Logs

1. Open a terminal and run the command sudo journalctl -u vncserver@:1.service. This command displays the logs for the vncserver service.
2. Look for any error messages or clues that might help identify the issue.

Conclusion

We hope this guide has helped you resolve the VNC Server startup timeout error in Ubuntu 20.04. If none of the above solutions work, it may be necessary to provide more information such as the VNC server configuration, logs, or any other relevant details to further diagnose the problem. Remember, understanding the error messages and knowing where to look for solutions is the key to troubleshooting any issue.