How to install and configure xRDP server on Ubuntu 22.04

The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is the transport protocol used by XRDP, a client-server program.

The server is implemented using a Linux daemon, which runs on top of a DisplayLink device. TLS encrypts the communication between the server and the client.

XRDP is a simple-to-install and customizable service for Ubuntu computers. However, a VNC server can also be used to access an Ubuntu machine’s remote desktop.

In this article, we’ll demonstrate how to set up XRDP on Ubuntu 22.04 and a few typical configuration tasks.

Prerequisites

You require an active, installed X server (Desktop Environment) on your server. Additionally, your client machine must have the xrdp (X Remote Desktop Protocol) client software installed.

Installing XRDP on Ubuntu in Step 1

Simple instructions are provided for installing XRDP on Ubuntu 22.04. The software can be easily installed using the apt package manager, which is readily available in the official repositories.

$ sudo apt update 

$ sudo apt install xrdp -y

The XRDP service will launch automatically after the installation has been completed successfully. By using the following command, you may determine the status:

The acquired output indicates that the Xrdp service is operational.

Step 2: XRDP Configuration

The installer will generate a new “xrdp” account. The xrdp session makes use of the certificate key file “/etc/ssl/private/ssl-cert-snakeoil.key,” which is important when working with remote desktops.

To make things operate properly, use the following command to add the xrdp user to the “ssl-cert” group.

$ sudo usermod -a -G ssl-cert xrdp

Restart the Xrdp service by issuing the following command:

$ sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Step 3: Setup the System Firewall

The XRDP service can be accessed using normal remote desktop port 3389. You must configure the firewall to enable distant computers access to port 3389.

To open port 3389 for the LAN network on systems with a UFW firewall, execute the following command.

To open port 3389 for the LAN network on systems with a UFW firewall, execute the following command.

$ sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 3389

(If your LAN network is 192.168.1.0/24 )

Or execute

$ sudo ufw allow from 0.0.0.0/0 to any port 3389

to open port 3389 for all

To implement the updated rules, reload the UFW.

$ sudo ufw reload

Okay, your system is now accessible via the RDP protocol.

Step 4: Access Remote Desktop

The Xrdp service has been successfully deployed and is ready for use. Open the RDP client on your Windows device and enter the IP address of the Ubuntu system.

Launch the RDP client on the Windows system:

Once connected, the remote machine will demand for authentication. To gain remote desktop access, enter the login credentials for the remote Ubuntu machine.

After successful authentication, you will be granted access to the Ubuntu remote desktop.

You may now use a graphical interface to control your remote Ubuntu installation.

Conclusion

This article will show you how to install and configure XRDP, a lightweight and secure remote desktop client and access program, on various Linux distributions. XRDP can be used in place of PPP (Point-to-Point), SSH, and VNC remote desktop clients. Like most Linux software, XRDP is available through your distribution’s official package management system. With a few adjustments, you can get XRDP up and running within 15 minutes.