Ubuntu Xrdp Login Screen Just Connecting Cant Read
In this tutorial nosotros'll install xRDP on a server running Ubuntu 20.04 and install multiple desktop environments on information technology (Openbox, GNOME, XFCE, LXQt, LXDE, MATE, KDE Plasma). Nosotros'll see how to connect via RDP from Windows, Linux, macOS, Android and iOS, how to optimize the connection speed in some cases, and how to ready a few common bug when using xRDP.
xRDP is a free and open-source implementation of Microsoft RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) that enables other operating systems, other than Windows, to provide a fully functional remote desktop feel.
xRDP is fully compatible with Microsoft RDP, rdesktop, FreeRDP and NeutrinoRDP.
With xRDP you can have your own RDP Server on your Linux box, and connect to information technology via Microsoft's Remote Desktop Client (if you use Windows), but also, you lot can utilise Linux, macOS, Android and iOS using their corresponding clients.
Prerequisites
- A Linux box running Ubuntu 20.04.
- A Desktop Environment.
- A user with
sudoprivileges. We recommend a non-rootsudouser, because interim as root can damage your system if you're non careful. When you're logged in asroot, applications are running with root privileges and because of some bug or vulnerability they can harm your system. You lot can do anything and the system won't inquire, and you lot can easily alter the arrangement in a way that could be harmful, if you lot're not careful. If you lot act as anon-rootsudouser, and so the system will ask for the password, which could make you pause and prevent you from making a potentially harmful change.
Pace one – Install xRDP on Ubuntu 20.04
To begin,we'll update the package index:
sudo apt update
To install xRDP, run the command:
sudo apt -y install xrdp
The output will wait something like this:
Reading package lists... Done Building dependency tree Reading state information... Done The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required: libunity-gtk2-parser0 libunity-gtk3-parser0 unity-gtk-module-common Use 'apt autoremove' to remove them. The following additional packages volition exist installed: xorgxrdp Suggested packages: guacamole xrdp-pulseaudio-installer The following NEW packages volition be installed: xorgxrdp xrdp 0 upgraded, two newly installed, 0 to remove and 147 not upgraded. Need to get 488 kB of archives. After this operation, 3212 kB of additional deejay space will exist used.
Once installed, it should run as a service automatically. You lot tin can check it by typing:
sudo systemctl status xrdp
You should see something like:
● xrdp.service - xrdp daemon Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/xrdp.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled) Agile: active (running) since Wed 2020-12-23 15:10:48 CET; 3min 24s ago Docs: man:xrdp(viii) homo:xrdp.ini(5) Main PID: 1937 (xrdp) Tasks: 1 (limit: 1068) Retentivity: one.4M CGroup: /system.slice/xrdp.service └─1937 /usr/sbin/xrdp
xRDP makes use of the file /etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key which belongs to the ssl-cert group. Therefore, we need to add together the xRDP user to that group:
sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert
Nosotros demand to restart xRDP to changes to take upshot:
sudo systemctl restart xrdp
At this point, y'all take xRDP installed and running on your Ubuntu.
Opening Ports
Assuming you take Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) installed and active, to exist able to connect to our server, nosotros need to open the 3389 (default) port on our Firewall.
To accomplish this, we need to run:
sudo ufw permit 3389
You can secure it even more than, past allowing only a specific IP address or IP range:
For a specific IP accost:
sudo ufw allow from 1.1.1.i to any port 3389
For a specific IP range:
sudo ufw allow from 192.168.0.0/24 to any port 3389
xRDP Configuration
By default, you don't demand to brand whatever changes. Merely yous tin change the default port, add compression, and other settings by typing:
sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
Remember to restart the service, afterward any change.
Step 2 – Install Your Preferred Desktop Environment
To be able to connect to your box with xRDP, you'll need at to the lowest degree one desktop surround installed on it.
Install GNOME Desktop Environment
GNOME is the default desktop environment for many Linux distros. At the fourth dimension of writing, the latest version is GNOME iii.
To install information technology, run the post-obit command:
sudo apt -y install ubuntu-desktop
This is how GNOME Desktop looks like when you lot log in:
Install XFCE Desktop Surround
XFCE is some other Desktop Surround but low on system resources and fast. In other words: a lightweight desktop. You can install it past typing:
sudo apt -y install xfce4
This is how XFCE looks like:
Install LXQt Desktop Environment
LXQt is a port of LXDE. As LXDE, it has low resource requirements, in comparison to most popular desktop environments. Information technology's one of the meliorate choices to use with xRDP, in my opinion.
To install information technology run:
sudo apt -y install lxqt
This is how LXQt looks like:
Install LXDE Desktop Environment
LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Surroundings) is a popular lightweight desktop environment. It's built to have depression resource requirements, and is another slap-up choice for xRDP.
In that location are multiple means yous tin install it. For the purposes of this tutorial I'm using a simple command. If you lot'd like different methods, based on certain preferences you may accept, you can check the Intallation section on LXDE.org
To speedily install LXDE run:
sudo apt -y install lxde
This is how LXDE looks like:
Install MATE Desktop Environment
MATE is an attractive and intuitive Desktop Environment. A fork from the GNOME 2 Desktop, in response to the negative reception of GNOME 3, when the traditional taskbar (GNOME Console) with the GNOME Shell.
To install it run:
sudo apt -y install ubuntu-mate-desktop ubuntu-mate-core
This is how MATE Desktop looks like:
Install KDE Plasma Desktop Environment
KDE Plasma is one of the nigh recognized Desktop Environments. It'southward one of the most beautiful desktop environments, in my opinion, and it's got some not bad features, and it'due south very customizable.
Yous can install it past running:
sudo apt -y install kubuntu-desktop
This is how KDE Plasma looks like:
Install Openbox Window Manager
Openbox is a window manager and non a desktop surroundings. It won't offer y'all a wallpaper, taskbar or system panel. But it'south very lightweight and you can open the menu past correct clicking anywhere on the screen and selecting what you want to run.
Information technology's probably the best choice if y'all discover that your connection is laggy with xRDP, only you absolutely need to connect to a Linux machine using xRDP.
Here's how Openbox looks like:
Switching Between Desktop Environments for xRDP
If yous have multiple desktop environments installed and desire to switch between them you can run the following command:
sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-director
Yous'll be presented with the options representing your installed desktop environments. Just enter the number corresponding with your desktop environment from the list and press Enter.
There are 9 choices for the alternative 10-session-manager (providing /usr/bin/x-session-manager). Option Path Priority Status ------------------------------------------------------------ 0 /usr/bin/startlxde 50 auto mode one /usr/bin/gnome-session fifty manual mode 2 /usr/bin/lxsession 49 manual mode 3 /usr/bin/mate-session l transmission manner 4 /usr/bin/openbox-session 40 manual way * 5 /usr/bin/startlxde 50 manual mode 6 /usr/bin/startlxqt 50 transmission manner seven /usr/bin/startplasma-x11 40 manual style eight /usr/bin/startxfce4 50 manual mode ix /usr/bin/xfce4-session 40 transmission mode Printing <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or blazon selection number: 2 update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/lxsession to provide /usr/bin/x-session-manager (x-session-manager) in transmission mode
In my example I have 9 choices:
0 - /usr/bin/startlxde – the current desktop environs
1 - /usr/bin/gnome-session – GNOME three
2 - /usr/bin/lxsession – LXDE
3 - /usr/bin/mate-session – MATE Desktop
4 - /usr/bin/openbox-session – Openbox
5 - /usr/bin/startlxde – LXDE (same as lxsession)
half-dozen - /usr/bin/startlxqt – LXQt
7 - /usr/bin/startplasma-x11 – KDE Plasma
eight - /usr/bin/startxfce4 – XFCE
nine - /usr/bin/xfce4-session – XFCE (aforementioned as startxfce4)
Next time you log into your server via xRDP, your desktop environment should be changed. There's no need to restart xRDP for the changes to be applied.
Interacting with the xRDP service
Similar whatever other service, you lot can collaborate with xRDP via systemctl:
Stop xRDP Service:
sudo systemctl finish xrdp
Start xRDP Service:
sudo systemctl start xrdp
Enable xRDP on boot:
sudo systemctl enable xrdp
Disable xRDP on boot:
sudo systemctl disable xrdp
Footstep 3 – Connecting to Your Remote Desktop
To connect to our new RDP service, we need to use a RDP Client.
Connect from Windows
Microsoft'south default RDP customer it's called "Remote Desktop Connection", and it's installed by default.
To chop-chop connect, enter the Ubuntu machine's IP accost or hostname, and click on Connect.
If yous click Show Options you'll see more than options, such equally inputting the User name, saving credentials for future utilise, and then you lot don't take to add them every time, adjusting the connexion quality preferences, and more.
Connect from Linux
In that location are a lot of options in Linux to use a RDP client, merely Remmina is a great pick with lots of features. I also use it in my day to mean solar day.
If yous don't already accept it installed, you can install information technology by running the post-obit command.
sudo apt -y install remmina*
When you openRemmina you lot can eitherQuick Connect (1) or create connection and save it (two).
Quick Connect
To Quick Connect, equally shown in the image higher up, selectRDP from the drop downward, and in the field to its' right only enter the server IP or hostname and pressEnter. You lot should and so be prompted to enter your credentials.
Saved Connection
To create a save connection click the + Icon in the upper left corner and the Remote Desktop Preferences window will popular up. There are multiple options you tin configure. For the purpose of this tutorial we'll just proper name a few:
Name – a friendly connection name. Information technology doesn't influence the connection and it is merely for your convenience
Server – the server IP or hostname
Username – your username
Password – your password
Colour depth – adjusting this tin can aid with slow connections. If the connectedness is laggy, try setting it toLoftier colour (15 bpp). The lowest is256 colours (8 bpp), simply information technology'due south painful.
Advanced -> Quality settings – adjust the quality of the connectedness. This is important if y'all find you take a slow/laggy connection. If the connecion is laggy, and so ready it to Poor (fastest) if information technology's not already.
Connect from macOS
To connect to a RDP Session on macOS, first we demand to install the Microsoft Remote Desktop App from the App Shop.
Once installed, just enter your Server IP or hostname, then click on Connect.
Android/iOS
On Android, we must download and install Microsoft Remote Desktop App from the PlayStore.
On iOS, is the aforementioned procedure, merely we need to download it from the AppStore.
Once downloaded and installed, run it and yous should be presented with the dashboard. Yours is about likely empty, mine has a connection that I take already saved.
Tap the+ Icon and you should be presented with a form to fill in the server'southward details.
The minimum you lot need to enter is the hostname or IP address, and tap salve. Then you'll see the saved session, such equally in the first screenshot, which you tin can tap to connect. Adjacent y'all'll exist presented with the Login screen on your server, where you tin can enter your credentials and starting time working.
Frequent Issues
Blank Screen Problem
Sometimes when you connect, you will face a Bare Screen.
There is a known bug in the xRDP program, but it's easy to workaround.
Commencement of all, if you lot finish with your RDP session, don't close the window! Instead, logout the user .
If you logout the user, instead of closing the window, you will non face the Blank Screen problem.
But if for some reason yous forgot to logout, you must kill all the users process:
sudo pkill -u UserName
And so, you will exist able to login again, without a blank screen.
xRDP Laggy/Slow
Apart from the fixes listed beneath, a universal method of speeding up the xRDP connection tin be to utilise a lower resolution.
Remote Desktop Laggy/Deadening when Connecting from Windows
- Remote Desktop Connexion Brandish & Experience
If your connection is slow when connecting from Windows, then you can reduce the Display -> Color settings and adjust the Feel -> Performance settings, which will reduce the visual quality of the feel, but will hopefully increment speed.
- Fix Priority to Realtime in Job Managing director
You can also set the highest priority, which is Realtime, in Task Managing director. Only open Job Managing director, and in theProcesses view, right clickRemote Desktop Connexion and click onBecome to details. You'll be taken in theDetailstab withmstsc.exe highlighted. Right click it, and in the context menuSet up priority -> Realtime.
Remote Desktop Laggy/Deadening when Connecting from Linux (using Remmina)
- With Remmina you can adjust theColor depth andConnection quality. When creating the connection, in theBones tab you can change theColour depth. I recommendHigh colour(xv bpp) as I find it too provides decent visuals.In theAdvanced tab you can also modify theQuality toPoor (Fastest)– it's most likely set up similar that by default, withal.
- I'grand non certain nearly this, but I suspect information technology might help if you lot too prepare theRemmina process priority toHighest, inSystem Monitor. Once again, I am not sure of how much this can improve performance.
Hallmark Required to Create Managed Colour Device
It's likely that you'll receive a few popups with the title Authentication Requiredthat readAuthentication is required to create a color managed device. Depending on the desktop environment yous may see these popups 2-four times.
You can easily dismiss them and bear on with your work. They most probable won't bother yous in your current session.
A comprehensive explanation on why this is happening and how to fix it tin can be found in this article xRDP – The Infamous "Authentication Required to Create Managed Color Device" Explained on c-nergy.exist.
We'll summarize their explanation and solution to prevent this from happening in the future.
Explanation:Ubuntu is using a software component calledPolKit, which is a framework for application authorization. It captures deportment performed past the user and checks if the user is authorized to perform these deportment on the organization.PolKit reads somepolicy files that specify if the user isauthorized, not authorized or needs authentication to perform an action.
Solution: A quick solution for this is the post-obit.
We will create the file 02-allow-colord.conf in/etc/polkit-1/localauthority.conf.d. To do this run the post-obit command:
sudo nano /etc/polkit-i/localauthority.conf.d/02-let-colord.conf
Now paste the post-obit content in it, replacing users with a group in which your user belongs to:
polkit.addRule(function(activeness, subject) { if ((action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-device" || action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.create-contour" || action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.delete-device" || action.id == "org.freedesktop.colour-manager.delete-profile" || action.id == "org.freedesktop.colour-director.change-device" || action.id == "org.freedesktop.color-manager.alter-profile") && bailiwick.isInGroup("{users}")) { return polkit.Result.YES; } }); Now the file is basically telling PolKit that if the user belongs to the groupusers (or the group that you used instead ofusers) they can create, change profile and color device, without the authentication prompt.
Conclusions
Well done! Hopefully you've managed to prepare and configured xRDP on your Ubuntu twenty.04 machine and installed the desktop environment(south) of your option.
If you lot have any issues then feel free contact u.s. and we'll endeavour to help as presently as nosotros can.
Resources & Acknowledgements
Authentication Required to Create Managed Color Device adapted from:
- https://c-nergy.exist/weblog/?p=12073
Remote Desktop Laggy/Boring when Connecting from Windows adapted from:
- https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37276637/rdp-session-is-slow
Reasons on why it's bad to always be logged in every bit root adjusted from:
- https://askubuntu.com/questions/16178/why-is-it-bad-to-log-in-as-root
Custom script to install an optimized xRDP, forth with some great fixes and in-depth tutorials:
- https://c-nergy.be/blog/?tag=xrdp
Source: https://thunderboltlaptop.com/install-xrdp-ubuntu/
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