Information gathered from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25657596/how-to-set-up-gui-on-amazon-ec2-ubuntu-server
Tested on Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS (HVM) SSD Volume Type Amazon ami-a22323db
Ensure Port 5900 for the VNC is open in the AWS Security Group
## Create new user with password login
$ sudo useradd -m awsgui
$ sudo passwd awsgui
$ sudo usermod -aG admin awsgui
$ sudo vim /etc/ssh/sshd_config # edit line "PasswordAuthentication" to yes
$ sudo /etc/init.d/ssh restart
# Setting up ui based ubuntu machine on AWS.
# In security group open port 5901. Then ssh to the server instance. Run following commands to install ui and vnc server:
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
$ sudo apt-get install vnc4server
$ sudo apt-get install gnome-panel gnome-settings-daemon metacity nautilus gnome-terminal
$ su - awsgui
$ vncserver
$ ps # note pid of vncserver
$ kill -9 pid
# And use this ~/.vnc/xstartup file:
$ vim /home/awsgui/.vnc/xstartup
#######################################################################################
## replace the .vnc/xstartup file contents with this
#!/bin/sh
export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1
unset SESSION_MANAGER
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
xsetroot -solid grey
vncconfig -iconic &
gnome-panel &
gnome-settings-daemon &
metacity &
nautilus &
gnome-terminal &
########################################################################################
$ reboot
#log back into EC2
$ su - awsgui
$ vncserver
# You can download xtightvncviewer to view desktop(for Ubutnu) from here https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VNC/Clients
In the vnc client, give public DNS plus ":1" (e.g. ec2-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx.compute-1.amazonaws.com:1). Enter the vnc login password. Make sure to use a normal connection. Don't use the key files.
Additional guide available here: http://www.serverwatch.com/server-tutorials/setting-up-vnc-on-ubuntu-in-the-amazon-ec2-Page-3.html
Mac VNC client can be downloaded from here: https://www.realvnc.com/en/connect/download/viewer/ \