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Server: Installation of xRDP (Remote Desktop)

Introduction​

On Linux, there is usually a default SSH console to manage the server. In some cases it may be easier to use a remote desktop connection, similar to Windows. A post-installation is possible for most Linux distros. In this guide this is explained for Ubuntu and Debian.

info

Important: At least Ubuntu 18.04.X LTS (Bionic Beaver) or Debian 10 (Buster) must be used as OS. Newer versions are recommended.

Installing xRDP​

First, the server should be updated:

// Debian
sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y

// Ubuntu
sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade -y

After the update, the necessary packages will be installed:

// Debian
sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies xorg dbus-x11 x11-xserver-utils -y

// Ubuntu
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop -y

Then xRDP can be installed:

// Debian
sudo apt install xrdp

// Ubuntu
sudo apt install xrdp

After installation, the status should return "active":

// Debian
sudo systemctl status xrdp

// Ubuntu
sudo systemctl status xrdp

xrdp

If the status is okay, a user still needs to be created. Then the xRDP service has to be restarted:

// Debian
sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert; sudo systemctl restart xrdp

// Ubuntu
sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert; sudo systemctl restart xrdp

When finishing the configuration, you can connect to the root or the respective user data of the server via Remote Desktop. The default port is: 3389

Connection​

The connection can be made via any RDP tool, connected with IP:PORT. When connecting you will be asked for the login data:

xrdp2

After successful login you see the desktop. With Ubuntu it looks a bit different than with Debian:

Ubuntu:

xrdp3

Debian:

xrdp4