Remote Desktop Setup for Ubuntu 24.04 AWS EC2

This guide explains how to set up remote desktop access on an Ubuntu 24.04 AWS EC2 instance so you can connect from a Windows machine.

System Information

This setup is tested on:

• OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (AWS EC2)
• Architecture: x86_64
• Kernel: Linux 6.14.0-1011-aws

Option 1: XRDP (Recommended for Windows RDP)

XRDP allows you to use Windows' built-in Remote Desktop Connection to connect to your Ubuntu machine.

Installation Steps

1. Update the system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

1. Install desktop environment (XFCE - lightweight):

sudo apt install -y xfce4 xfce4-goodies

1. Install XRDP:

sudo apt install -y xrdp

1. Configure XRDP to use XFCE:

echo "xfce4-session" > ~/.xsession

1. Start and enable XRDP service:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp
sudo systemctl start xrdp

1. Configure firewall (if ufw is enabled):

sudo ufw allow 3389

1. Set password for ubuntu user:

sudo passwd ubuntu

Install Firefox Browser

sudo apt install -y firefox

Option 2: VNC Server (Alternative)

VNC provides cross-platform remote desktop access but requires a separate VNC client.

Installation Steps

1. Install VNC server and desktop:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y ubuntu-desktop-minimal tigervnc-standalone-server tigervnc-common

1. Set VNC password:

vncpasswd

1. Start VNC server:

vncserver :1 -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 24

1. Configure firewall:

sudo ufw allow 5901

AWS Security Group Configuration

Important: You must configure your AWS Security Group to allow remote desktop connections.

1. Go to AWS Console → EC2 → Security Groups
2. Select your instance's security group
3. Add inbound rule:
4. For XRDP:
   • Type: Custom TCP
   • Port: 3389
   • Source: Your IP address (for security)
5. For VNC:
   • Type: Custom TCP
   • Port: 5901
   • Source: Your IP address (for security)

Connecting from Windows

Using XRDP (Option 1)

1. Open "Remote Desktop Connection" (built into Windows)
2. Computer: your-ec2-hostname:3389 or your-ec2-public-ip:3389
3. Username: ubuntu
4. Password: The password you set with sudo passwd ubuntu

Using VNC (Option 2)

1. Install a VNC client (like RealVNC Viewer)
2. Connect to: your-ec2-hostname:5901 or your-ec2-public-ip:5901
3. Enter the VNC password you set with vncpasswd

Troubleshooting

XRDP Issues

• Black screen: Make sure you set the session with echo "xfce4-session" > ~/.xsession
• Connection refused: Check if XRDP is running: sudo systemctl status xrdp
• Can't connect: Verify AWS Security Group allows port 3389

VNC Issues

• Display not found: Start VNC server with vncserver :1
• Connection timeout: Check AWS Security Group allows port 5901
• Poor performance: Try reducing color depth: vncserver :1 -depth 16

General Network Issues

• Verify your EC2 instance's public IP hasn't changed
• Check that your home/office IP is allowed in the security group
• Ensure the EC2 instance is running and accessible via SSH

Security Considerations

• Limit source IPs: Always restrict remote desktop access to your specific IP addresses
• Use strong passwords: Set complex passwords for user accounts
• Consider VPN: For production environments, consider accessing through a VPN
• Disable when not needed: Stop XRDP/VNC services when not in use:

sudo systemctl stop xrdp  # For XRDP
vncserver -kill :1        # For VNC

Performance Tips

• XFCE is lightweight: We chose XFCE desktop environment for better performance over RDP
• Adjust resolution: Use appropriate screen resolution for your connection speed
• Close unused applications: Remote desktop uses bandwidth, so close unnecessary programs
• Use compression: Some RDP clients offer compression options for slower connections