Using XRDP to remote desktop from Windows to Ubuntu

Caveats:

• Disable Ubuntu Sharing options. They are not compatible with XRDP.
• Make sure you are logged out of the desktop session at the server, before logging in with RDP.

Setup

1. Install xrdp and gnome-session

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install xrdp gnome-session
   

2. Tell xrdp to launch GNOME desktop when user logins with RDP

   echo "gnome-session" | tee ~/.xsession
   

3. Setup X session type and auth keys

   echo "export XAUTHORITY=${HOME}/.Xauthority" | tee ~/.xsessionrc
   echo "export GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE=ubuntu" | tee -a ~/.xsessionrc
   echo "export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-ubuntu:/etc/ xdg" | tee -a ~/.xsessionrc
   

4. enable and restart

   sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp
   sudo systemctl restart xrdp
   

5. [Optional] Reboot server

   sudo reboot
   

6. Login from remote client using RDP (windows) or Reminna (Linux)