I’ve been tearing my hair out trying to get remote desktop access set up on my Ubuntu machine using xrdp, and I think I need a little help from the community. I followed a bunch of tutorials and did all the usual steps, but for some reason, I just can’t seem to connect. Here’s what I’ve done so far: I installed xrdp, made sure it started properly, and even checked that the service is running. I used the command line to update the necessary packages and configure things correctly, but I’m still hitting a wall.
When I try to connect using my Windows machine’s Remote Desktop Connection, I get a message saying it can’t connect to the remote computer. I’ve double-checked my firewall settings too, and I believe I allowed port 3389, which is what xrdp uses. It’s so frustrating because everything seems to be in order, but I can’t get through.
At one point, I thought it might be a problem with the desktop environment, so I made sure I was using something compatible. I’m on a version of Ubuntu that should work well with xrdp, but maybe it’s something about the display manager? I’ve read that sometimes switching from LightDM to GDM can fix issues like this, but I’m not really sure how to go about that without messing everything up.
Has anyone had similar problems? What steps did you take to troubleshoot? Are there specific log files I should be checking to get more insight into what’s going wrong? I could really use any tips or personal experiences you all might have. It’s making me feel like I’m lost in a maze, and all I want is to remotely access my machine without the hassle. I’m sure there are others out there who have faced this, so any guidance would sincerely be appreciated. Thanks a bunch!
Struggling with xrdp on Ubuntu?
Hey there! It sounds like you’re having a tough time getting xrdp set up. No worries, I’ve been there too! Here are some steps that might help you figure things out:
1. Check xrdp and Xvnc Installation
Ensure that you have both
xrdpandXvncinstalled. You can install them using:sudo apt install xrdp tigervnc-standalone-server2. Start xrdp Service
Make sure the xrdp service is running. You can check its status with:
sudo systemctl status xrdpIf it’s not running, start it with:
sudo systemctl start xrdpAlso, enable it to start on boot:
sudo systemctl enable xrdp3. Desktop Environment
If you think the desktop environment might be the issue, it might help to switch it. For example, you can install XFCE, which is lightweight and works great with xrdp:
sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodiesThen, set it by editing the
~/.xsessionfile:echo xfce4-session > ~/.xsession4. Display Manager
Switching your display manager to GDM can sometimes help. You can do this by running:
sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3Choose GDM, and then restart your machine.
5. Firewall Settings
Double-check your firewall rules to ensure port 3389 is open. You can use:
sudo ufw allow 3389Run a status check to make sure it’s open:
sudo ufw status6. Log Files
Don’t forget to check the log files for more clues! You can look at:
/var/log/xrdp.logand/var/log/xrdp-sesman.logThese files might have error messages that can point you in the right direction.
7. Reach Out for Help
If you’re still stuck, sharing those log file snippets on forums might attract someone who’s faced the same issues. The community is really helpful!
Good luck! I hope you find your way out of this maze soon! 🧩
It sounds like you’ve done a thorough job setting up xrdp, but there are a few common issues that can cause connection problems. First, check the xrdp log files for any error messages that might provide more context. The logs are typically located in /var/log/xrdp-sesman.log and /var/log/xrdp.log. Additionally, ensure that your desktop environment is correctly set up for xrdp. If you’re using a different desktop environment that may not be compatible with xrdp, it could cause issues. Switching from LightDM to GDM can indeed address some of these compatibility issues. You can change your display manager using the following command: `sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3`, then select GDM when prompted. After this change, restart your machine and try connecting again.
Another aspect to check is your firewall settings, specifically on your Ubuntu machine. While you’ve mentioned allowing port 3389, you might also want to ensure that there are no additional firewall rules that could be blocking the connection. You can verify the current rules with `sudo ufw status`. If you’re using AppArmor, it can also restrict xrdp from establishing connections, so consider checking those profiles as well. Lastly, if your local network uses any VPNs or has unique routing rules, it might be worth checking those settings as they can interfere with SMB and RDP protocols. With these troubleshooting tips, you should be able to either identify the root cause of the issue or gain more clarity on your next steps.