Hello World,

Based on the positive feedback we have received from our posts about XRDP and Ubuntu 14.04, we are providing hereafter an update on how to install XRDP from the sourceforge web site (and not the one found in Ubuntu Repositiories)

The Official version of XRDP is 0.6.x. However, the team behind xrdp has been working on the next version.  In this post, we will be using the version 0.9.  This version is not officially supported and considered as in developpment for the moment.

Why a custom installation ?

Some people might be wondering why performing a custom installation of XRDP.  If you work with xrdp, you know that the main issue is the fact that you cannot reconnect to the same session if you are using the default packages available in Ubuntu Repositories.  However, if you tweak a little bit some configuration files, you can overcome this limitation and connect to the same remote session (see our posts : http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=4471, http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=5382 – Check the section reconnecting to the same session)

If we perform a custom installation, we do not need to tweak the configuration files and we will be able to reconnect to the same session after finishing our installation (see http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=4168, http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=4242).  This post will describe how to perform this custom installation and as you will see, it’s really not that difficult.

So, Let’s go !

Custom Installation of xrdp

Step 1 – Get the xrdp package

As mentioned earlier, we will be using the xrdp packages 0.9 available here.  From this location, on the right side, you will be able to download the xrdp.zip package.

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By default, the package will be dowloaded at ~/Downloads directory

Step 2 – Install necessary dependencies for xrdp installation 

In order to be able to compile the xrdp package from source, you will need to download some additional packages that will be used by the compilation script.  

Execute the following command in order to install the pre-requisites for the xrdp installation. 

sudo apt-get install autoconf libtool libpam0g-dev libx11-dev libxfixes-dev libssl-dev libxrandr-dev

Step 3 – Install alternate desktop to be used with XRDP 

Then we will need to install a alternate desktop interface. Indeed, as you probably know, xrdp and Unity or Gnome Shell 3 is not working.  We have to install a desktop interface that can work with xrdp.  You can choose from xfce,LXDE or MATE Desktop).  You can have a look at the following posts to see how you can install these desktops and use them with XRDP

• XRDP and XFCE Desktop 
• XRDP and LXDE Desktop 
• XRDP and MATE Desktop

Because I want to you the MATE Desktop interface, I will need to install the following component by issuing the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository “deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/archive/1.8/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main”
wget -q http://mirror1.mate-desktop.org/debian/mate-archive-keyring.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-core mate-desktop-environment mate-notification-daemon

I have then to say to xrdp to use the MATE Desktop as default desktop while connecting. You will be doing this by issuing the following command

echo mate-session> ~/.xsession

Step 4 – Install X11VNC Component

Finally, I can install the X11VNC component (which replaces the vnc4server software)

sudo apt-get install x11vnc

Step 5 – Compile and install xrdp package 

You can then go to the location where the package has been downloaded (in my case /home/griffon/Downloads) and extract the content of the archive by right-clicking the package and selecting extract here.  We are ready to perform the installation of the xrdp package.

sudo ./bootstrap
sudo ./configure
sudo make
sudo make install

Post Setup Actions

Step 1 – Install/remove ubuntu xrdp package 

We will first install/remove the xrdp packages from ubuntu repository. This action will create the startup script needed to have xrdp service running when the computer restarts.  To perform this; from the console; we executre the following commands :

 

sudo apt-get install xrdp 
sudo apt-get remove xrdp

 

Step 2 – Configuration changes

To finalize our custom installation, we will need to issue 4 additional commands in order to have a working xrdp solution

sudo mv startwm.sh startwm.sh.backup
sudo ln -s /etc/X11/Xsession /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh
sudo mkdir /usr/share/doc/xrdp
sudo cp /etc/xrdp/rsakeys.ini /usr/share/doc/xrdp/rsakeys.ini

 

Step 3 – Restart your computer

Everything should be ready and you should be able to use the xrdp software after rebooting your machine. Rebooting the computer ensure that the xrdp service will effectively be restarted automatically and thus making it useable for remote connection.

If you try to perform a remote connection, you will see the new login screen from xrdp software.  In the dropdown menu, you will have to select the option sesman-Xvnc in order to complete the login process.

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Customize XRDP Login Screen

If you open the file /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini,  you will see that you have some option that can help you control the look and feel of the login screen.  The fist thing I modify in the xrp.ini file is the order of the dropdown box menu.  Because we are using x11vnc, we have to select it in the drop down menu. By switching section 1 with section 2 (see screenshot), the sesman-x11vnc will always be the first on in my drop down list.

The image below shows the final result

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By changing some other settings; you can also customize the color and the size of the login box.  for the moment, I have configured my login screen as following

Click Picture for better Resolution

 

 

Bonus

We have compiled all the commands into a script so that you can use it to easily perform the installation.   The only thing you need is an internet connection.  The script has not been fully tested but should be working.

########################################################################################
# Script_Name : xrdp-install.sh 
# Description : Perform an automated custom installat of xrdp 
# on ubuntu 14.04 
# Date : May 2014 
# written by : Griffon - http://www.c-nergy.be - http://www.c-nergy.be/blog
#
# Disclaimer : Script provided AS IS. Use it at your own risk.... 
#
########################################################################################

#-Go to your Download folder

echo "Moving to the ~/Download folders..."
echo "-----------------------------------"
cd ~/Downloads

#Download the xrdp latest files 
echo "Ready to start the download of xrdp package"
echo "-------------------------------------------"
wget https://github.com/neutrinolabs/xrdp/archive/master.zip

#Unzip xrdp package
echo "Extracting content of xrdp package..."
echo "-----------------------------------"
unzip master.zip

#Install prereqs for compilation
echo "Installing prereqs for compiling xrdp..."
echo "----------------------------------------"
sudo apt-get -y install autoconf libtool libpam0g-dev libx11-dev libxfixes-dev libssl-dev libxrandr-dev

#Install the desktop of you choice - I'm Using Mate Desktop 
echo "Installing alternate desktop to be used with xrdp..."
echo "----------------------------------------------------"

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/archive/1.8/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs) main"
wget -q http://mirror1.mate-desktop.org/debian/mate-archive-keyring.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
sudo apt-get -y update
sudo apt-get -y install mate-core mate-desktop-environment mate-notification-daemon --force-yes
echo "DoNE ??"

#Configure the Xsession file 
echo mate-session> ~/.xsession

#Install the X11VNC 
echo "Installing X11VNC..."
echo "----------------------------------------"
sudo apt-get -y install x11vnc

#Add/Remove Ubuntu xrdp packages

echo "Add/Remove xrdp packages..."
echo "---------------------------"

sudo apt-get -y install xrdp 
sudo apt-get -y remove xrdp

#Compile and make xrdp

echo "Installing and compiling xrdp..."
echo "--------------------------------"

cd xrdp-master
sudo ./bootstrap
sudo ./configure
sudo make
sudo make install

#Final Post Setup configuration

echo "Post Setup Configuration..."
echo "---------------------------"

sudo mv /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh.backup
sudo ln -s /etc/X11/Xsession /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh
sudo mkdir /usr/share/doc/xrdp
sudo cp /etc/xrdp/rsakeys.ini /usr/share/doc/xrdp/rsakeys.ini

echo "Restart the Computer"
echo "----------------------------"
sudo shutdown -r now

Save this script into a file (I called it xrdp-install.sh).

Before executing the script, do not forget to mark it as executable.  Right-click on the file, go to properties, then select permissions and tick the box allow executable….

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When this is done, open the Terminal and issue the following command (from the location where you saved the script)  sudo ./xrdp-install.sh

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Final Notes

This is it for this post.  You should be able to perform a custom installation of xrdp and play around with the latest version in development.  Using this solution, you will be able to reconnect to the same remote session with no tricks or workaround.

I hope you enjoyed this post

Till next time

See ya