I'm wanting to turn my desktop computer into a computer that I can remote into and run scripts and such. How would I do this? TC01 said to use SSH, but I have no idea how I would do that.

Edit: I'd be using SliTaz (linux) and a wired internet connection.

Actually, I'm not stuck with SliTaz, so if anyone can think of a better option that can run on a computer with 256 mb of ram, I'm open to suggestions.

Use VNC. This might help: http://forum.slitaz.org/index.php/discussion/441/integrate-xvnc-vnc-server-into-slitaz

Ok, I installed that onto my desktop and installed 2 clients onto my laptop. When I go to type in the server, what do I put? The other computer's IP address (including the port)? Sorry, I'm a complete newb when it comes to this :/

Edit: 888 posts

It is the other computer's IP, with port 5900. If that doesn't work only input the IP address.

I tried both. Each said that the connection was refused. Should I try the TightVNC server and client together and see what happens? Or is there a better way?

Try modifying your firewall settings.

Mine or the host computer's?

Both, make sure they allow connections through port 5900.

I fixed the firewall for both, and it didn't seem to fix it. I still get a connection refused error.

I'll try VNC with ubuntu tomorrow and try to figure what I did to make it work.

VNC would definitely work, or you can do X forwarding over SSH. You'd just need a display server on the client you were remoting from; for example, I use MingW on my Windows desktop to open GUI windows on my Linux boxes remotely.

I think I just figured out the problem... I'm using the same IP address as my desktop computer (at least, I think that's the problem)

Sorry for sounding like an ad (lol), but I actually recommend TeamViewer (get it here). It is cross-platform, does not require you to be on the same network, and will let you build from source if your Linux distribution has no compatible pre-made package from TeamViewer. Each computer you install it on is given a special ID, and while by default it generates a new password to connect on every startup, you can specify a permanent password of your choice for connecting at any time! All you'd have to do is install it and set it to run on startup, then set a user-defined password, and you can connect to it from wherever using another computer with TeamViewer installed! I've used it before (both for personal use and to help my family remotely), so... yeah, I recommend it!

Oh, and BTW:

I recommend you use something more mainstream like Ubuntu anyway. (which will indeed run on 256MB, even though 512MB is recommended; i think you may have to use the Alternate Install CD, however)

TeamViewer is ok, but I don't find it to be too OSS in philosophy or fact, and it's not really intercompatible with anything. To each his own, of course.

I don't think I'll be using TeamViewer, that would require that I have it installed at school, which I can't do I'd like to have a VNC server instead simply because I can use a portable app to access it (if it ever works). Also, I've tried installing Ubuntu on that machine multiple times, but it never gets anywhere, it just slows down to a crawl right after starting up. Would having my computer on the same network/IP mess up VNC?

They already have a PortableApp:
http://portableapps.com/apps/utilities/teamviewer_portable
I use it myself.

A good alternative to teamviewer or vnc would be NX, though IMO X Forwarding is the best in most situations except on extreme low bandwidth applications, like when on dial-up, where NX wins out.

Indeed, I'm a growing proponent of X forwarding. However, since my servers almost entirely run CLI linux versions with no GUIs, and my desktops and laptops save for my netbook run Windows, I don't often have the opportunity to remotely access a Linux GUI.