How to Use RDP on Ubuntu (Install xRDP)

Introduction

xRDP provides an RDP-compatible server for Linux. This guide shows how to install xRDP on Ubuntu, configure a desktop environment, and secure the connection.

Install a Desktop Environment (if headless)

sudo apt update

sudo apt install -y xfce4 xfce4-goodies

Install xRDP

sudo apt install -y xrdp

sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp

Configure xRDP session

Create or update ~/.xsession for the user to start XFCE:

echo "xfce4-session" > ~/.xsession

sudo service xrdp restart

Open Firewall Ports (UFW)

sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp

sudo ufw reload

Connect from Windows or other RDP clients

Use the server IP and your username/password in your RDP client. For best security, access xRDP via a VPN or SSH tunnel:

ssh -L 3390:localhost:3389 youruser@yourserver

# then point RDP client to localhost:3390

Security & Performance Tips

• Use an SSH tunnel or VPN — do not expose port 3389 to the public internet unless protected by firewall rules.


• Consider using lightweight desktops (XFCE / LXDE) for smoother performance over low bandwidth.


• Keep OS and packages updated.