How to use RDP to remote desktop into Ubuntu

I want to say that since I found this out I have been overjoyed! There is nothing in my opinion that is better then RDP. Nothing! All open source remote protocols like VNC blow compared to RDP.

I am going to bet most of you know what RDP is. For those that do not know what EDP is I will explain it. RDP stands for Remote Desktop protocol. It has been around forever in the Windows world. Techies like myself eat, breath and sleep using RDP because it makes our jobs and our clients so much more accessible!

Remote desktop is made up of two parts. There is the client and the server. Both the Client and desktop use RDP to communicate back and forth.

The Linux world has had the client for a while. (ie you could remote desktop onto a Windows Server) but you could never RDP from a Windows box onto a Ubuntu box.

Until Now!

This is how you will setup your linux (ubuntu) box to get RDP access.

1.) You will need to install the software. Make sure that you have an internet connection and type this code:

Basically it means change to “Super User” and install a package called “xrdp”. Believe it or not, that is all it will take. You will be asked for your password and then it will ask if you want to install xrdp.

As you can see from the screenshot it will install around 7.4MB of new software. Obviously VNC is somehow being used. Honestly, It performs just as good as it’s windows counter part.

Once you install it, step number two will be to connect and verify that it is working.

2.) Log in a verify that everything works

I normally recommend that you use the ip Address of the xrdp server. If you know you computer can connect to the server via name resolution then you can just use the name of the server.

As you can see the login look a bit different. Let’s actually log into the machine. Like windows you will need to enter a local user on the server. In my case I made a user called “SuperDuperUser” and give it a password.

Look at that. Remote desktop in all it’s glory!