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Ubuntu will not initialize X Windows (the windowing/graphics system) if there is not a monitor at boot. This means that VNC and remote desktop will not start either (nor network manager, which is a pain sometimes).

So, in order to "fool" your computer into thinking that there is a monitor, get a VGA cable, and make a loopback or dummy connector for when you run headless. Connect pins 1 to 6, 2 to 7, and 3 to 8 using 50-200 ohm resistors (tutorials seem to vary, 200 is on the safe side).

Your new "dummy" will show up as a 1024x768 VGA monitor, good to go. X windows will now start at boot.

DISCLAIMER: I don't claim that this will work, but other people on the internet do. Try at your own risk.