xrdp is not able to transmitt unity desktop correct - different clients

[Mikko Ohtamaa]

After login nothing is shown except desktop wallpaper

Steps to repeat

1. sudo apt-get install xrdp
2. Install CoRD http://sourceforge.net/projects/cord/files/cord/0.5.5/CoRD_0.5.5.zip/download
3. Login to the server using CoRD

Expected result:

Unity desktop with menus, taskbars, etc.

Actual result:

Unity desktop wallpaper

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Wayne Brown (fwbrown)]

Getting the same problem with current release of 11.10 when logging in from Windows PC with Windows Remote Desktop client.

[CassieMoondust (cassie-lx)]

Have the same problem. After login in from a WindowsXP remote desktop client to my ubuntu 11.10 machine i can login to the rdp session but after that the wallpaper appears and on the top a "menuebar" appears with some options, with them i can start nautilus. All windows do not have any borders or buttons.

It seems to that no windowmanager starts after login.

(Btw, how can i start Unity-2D manually after login into a terminal-session?)

[Jim Stewart-Brown (jamcbrow1)]

I am getting the same problem. I had been using 11.04 Desktop amd64 with xrdp as well as 11.04 Xubuntu amd64 with vino. I was logging in from a WindowsXP machine using Windows Remote Desktop viewer, with no problems. With 11.10 Desktop amd64 and xrdp, I also get wallpaper and no window manager, just menubar. I cannot resize or move windows, the only way to close them is to use the close/quit option in the menu.

As a temporary workaround, I was able to ssh to my machine, and create launchers for Firefox, Gnome-Terminal, etc in the Desktop folder, although one could create a new document from the right click menu, then make in executable in "permissions"

It is similar to Using Alt+Tab to switch to the Desktop - you are stuck on the desktop with the launcher invisible until you mouse over it, until you Alt+Tab back. If you simply minimize the application, and see the desktop that way, you see the launcher regardless of your mouse position.

[Robert G (78luphr0rnk2nuqimstywepozxn9kl1-launchpad-a811i2i3ytqlsztthjth0svbccw8inm)]

I have the exact same problem

[Bernard Gautier (bernard-gautier)]

I am also facing the same problem. Is there any know workaround or should I go back to an older version of Ubuntu?

[Mark Kelly (mark-kelly)]

I too have this problem. XRDP Worked fine with 11.04, and now that I have upgraded I can only see either the back ground, or a cut down version of some windows, but I am unable to move them. All very strange!

[Matt Hamann (matthew-hamann)]

I'm having the same issue. Worked fine in 11.04, but not after a clean install of 11.10. All I get is the desktop wallpaper and a really strange, very basic menu bar at the top of the screen.

This needs to be fixed ASAP! Anyone have ideas?

[Wayne Brown (fwbrown)]

Unless this is resolved soon, I'm going to have to revert to 11.04, since this is seriously affecting my ability to use Linux in my job.

[Fabien_Tivolle (tivolle)]

I have tested on two systems and was able to reproduce the problem once.

If I install that on a system with no graphic acceleration and use Unity 2D as default environment, xrdp is working fine.

With the system using the regular Unity (3D), only the wall paper and nautilus appears.

Solution would be to force xrdp to use Unity 2D.

[Fabien_Tivolle (tivolle)]

Fix to get unity 2D in your session:

create in you home directory this file: .xsession

like this
$ echo "gnome-session --session=ubuntu-2d" > .xsession
$ sudo service xrdp restart

Done.

[CassieMoondust (cassie-lx)]

I tested the "fix" from Fabien Tivolle and it seems to work well !
But now, it should go a fix into the package xrdp, but i think there must be a change in one of the config-files in /etc/xrdp itself (for example the xsession.sh) !

My idea is to put it into the /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh
Simply add the line from Fabien to the skript and write the output to the home directory:

#!/bin/sh

if [ -r /etc/default/locale ]; then
  . /etc/default/locale
  export LANG LANGUAGE
fi

echo "gnome-session --session=ubuntu-2d" > ~/.xsession
. /etc/X11/Xsession

And it should work. Everytime you login to the remote-session the file .xsession will be created.

But there are thinks which are missing. For example there is no memenu and no shutdown menu!
The theme ambiance and radiance isn't completely displayed and last but not leastnot all icons are visible in the dash.

In my opinion the best solution is to work with a lxde or xfce desktop instead.

[Wayne Brown (fwbrown)]

I'm running Unity 2D as my default since my hardware doesn't support 3D. It works fine when I login directly on my workstation, but when coming in through xrdp it gives me the desktop wallpaper and the dropdown-menu bar at the top with "File Edit View Go Bookmarks Help" as the only options. I tried Fabien Tivolle's "fix" and it gives me the Unity 2d panel at the top, but without the button in the top right that gives the menu with "System Settings, Displays, ... Shutdown," etc. Pressing CTRL-ALT-T brings up a terminal window as usual, and executing "ps -ef | grep unity" in that window verifies that it really is unity-2d-panel that is running, but that's the only unity-2d program running. Trying to execute unity-2d-launcher in that window produces the following error: 'Xlib: extension "XInputExtension" missing on display ":10.0".

[Edward (ecadman)]

Here's a workaround that gives me Unity 2d with apparently all the controls/clock on the top right and Unity's left side strip of icons, all while connecting from Windows. It's the most functionality I've been able to get with xrdp since installing Oneiric.

Do Fabien's fix as mentioned above, namely

$ echo "gnome-session --session=ubuntu-2d" > .xsession

AND

install x11rdp and using that as the x server as instructed here: http://scarygliders.net/2011/09/23/install-xrdp-and-x11rdp-the-comprehensive-howto-for-ubuntu-and-debian-based-systems/

Hope that helps some of you.

[Wayne Brown (fwbrown)]

Thanks, Edward! I tried your suggestion and it gives me a functional Unity 2D environment over xrdp. So thanks to you, Fabien and Kevin Cave from scarygliders.net I can keep Oneiric on my office desktop and still be able to use it from home for doing after-hours tech support.

[David Gradwell (david-gradwell)]

This bug affects me also.
Confirmed that #14 above works but is clearly quite a lot of work to set up each machine.

PLEASE can we have this latest, improved version of XRDP included in the standard Ubuntu build.

[Craig McQueen (cmcqueen1975)]

That x11rdp work-around of comment #14 sounds like too much work to do on more than one machine. Is there a simpler solution?

[David Gradwell (david-gradwell)]

XRDP installs and works first time with Ubuntu 12.04.

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

David Gradwell wrote in

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xrdp/+bug/900016
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:

"
After upgrading from 11.04 to 11.10 using the normal upgrade mechanism XRDP fails to work properly.

Login is OK.

Only a blank background is displayed when I connect from Windows 7.

A similar bug was reported in 11.10 beta and appears not to have been fixed.

I'm running the production version.

I also get the same blank background if I connect from another Ubuntu machine running Ubuntu 10 using Applcations/Internet/Remote Desktop Viewer.

Repeatable.
"

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

With this it is also a regression and will be marked as such.

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

I have written in bug

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xrdp/+bug/1082863
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------:
"
I have tried to acces a remote machine running the RDP server xrdp with a remmina client.

The connection establish with success, but the drawback is that the unity panel and dash is not show.

So, in consequence the is only a blank desktop background of the remote machine(xrdp server)transmitted and accessible.

Steps to reproduce:
1.Install xrdp on a remote machine.
2.Install remmina on a client machine
3.Access with remmina(rdp configuration)the remote machine.
4.See the connection establishing.
5.See the only a blank desktop background is transmitted(no panel , no dash)

Expected:

All unity desktop elements should be transmitted via RDP

Additional:

A check of the remote machine via VNC(vinagre - remmina settup) shows that xrdp usage is capable of crashing compiz sometimes.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: xrdp 0.6.0-1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.7.0-3.9-generic 3.7.0-rc6
Uname: Linux 3.7.0-3-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.2-0ubuntu5
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Nov 25 10:58:31 2012
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-10-20 (35 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no username)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: xrdp
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2012-11-15 (9 days ago)
"

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

With this the client software seems to have no influence.

The workarround with unity 2D will properly not work with Ubuntu12.10 and 13.04, because 2D support has been droped.

[Oleksandr Andrusenko (oleksandr-v-andrusenko)]

I have the same issue on my Ubuntu 12.04.

I have tried the proposed workaround
    echo "gnome-session --session=ubuntu-2d" > ~/.xsession
and found it not working as expected: it successfully creates new session on each connection, although I need to reuse existing local session on DISPLAY :0 .

After some digging, I have found another solution, which not requires to edit ~/.xsession and allows to reuse existing session.
All what you need is to edit /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini:

in the next section

[xrdp1]
name=sesman-Xvnc
lib=libvnc.so
username=ask
password=ask
ip=127.0.0.1
port=-1

replace the last line on the next one:
port=5900

Well, honestly, I'm not sure.
Maybe you still need additionally one or more things I unsuccessfully tried before that:
1) Re-login locally into your existing session using ubuntu-2d desktop type.
2) Run "sudo xhost +".
3) Remove "you must confirm each access to this machine" int the configuration of "desktop sharing".

Hope that helps.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Please try this as a workaround:
    CCSM > Workarounds > Force full screen redraws (buffer swap) on repaint = ON

[Pat Junkins (alphapat1)]

On 12.10 I also found that i was lacking CCSM and once I installed it everything worked. There was a setting or component missing that allows you to log in.

also make sure that you uncheck "you must confirm each access to this machine" in "desktop sharing" as it will show only a blank screen as it waits for confirmation at the host.

[Sasa Paporovic (melchiaros)]

@ Daniel van Vugt

The workarround is not doing.

Install CCSM -> filer:workarround -> activate Force full screen redraws (buffer swap) on repaint -> restart the system(to be sure)
 -> remote login over rdp -> user account and password check from xrdp -> only the background of the remote computer -> no unity elements

I have tried this on different resolutions /colour settings/ so on ...

no difference

[mikelococo (mikelococo)]

I can also verify that forcing full screen redraws via CCSM doesn't help this bug. You still log in with the VNC client to the Vinagre server and no useful screen elements are drawn... no menu, now windows, no titlebar. Just a blank desktop.

Additionally, I'm watching the real server at the same time and can confirm that events are being received by the client. i can move the mouse and select text or start applications, which appear on the vinagre server's screen... but which are never sent as updates to the vnc client.

[Per Kjeldaas (kjeldaas)]

I am using Ubuntu 12.04 and have the same problem: Connecting from Windows 7 Home using Windows Remote Desktop to Ubuntu 12.04 I get no launchbar.

[norberto (netcaster)]

Ubuntu 13.04 updated to 2013-02-14 tested workaround

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
echo "gnome-session --session=gnome-fallback" > .xsession
sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp restart

Please note the change on echo cmd from others workarounds.
Session name 'ubuntu-2d' was changed by 'gnome-fallback'

[norberto (netcaster)]

It's an xrdp bug ?

[Matt Wolfgang (mattwolfgang)]

Thanks norberto! Your suggestion in #29 worked perfectly!

[Peter Magnusson (kmpm)]

Unity still doesn't work with xrdp. gnome-fallback gives you something at least but I hope someone is still trying to fix this.

[Robertjm (robertjm)]

Hope this isn't out of line. But, another workaround is to install
Splashtop personal. They have a linux version in beta (including
builds for Ubuntu 12.04 and 12.10, in both 32bit and 64bit versions.

On Wed, Aug 14, 2013 at 11:19 AM, Peter Magnusson
<email address hidden> wrote:
> Unity still doesn't work with xrdp. gnome-fallback gives you something
> at least but I hope someone is still trying to fix this.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/846407
>
> Title:
> xrdp is not able to transmitt unity desktop correct - different
> clients
>
> Status in Posix RDP server:
> Unknown
> Status in Unity:
> Confirmed
> Status in “unity” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
> Status in “xrdp” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> After login nothing is shown except desktop wallpaper
>
> Steps to repeat
>
> 1. sudo apt-get install xrdp
> 2. Install CoRD http://sourceforge.net/projects/cord/files/cord/0.5.5/CoRD_0.5.5.zip/download
> 3. Login to the server using CoRD
>
> Expected result:
>
> Unity desktop with menus, taskbars, etc.
>
> Actual result:
>
> Unity desktop wallpaper
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/posixrdp/+bug/846407/+subscriptions

[Wangzi (yhjhoo)]

 After upgrade to 13.10, the following solution is not working anymore.

Ubuntu 13.04 updated to 2013-02-14 tested workaround

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-fallback
echo "gnome-session --session=gnome-fallback" > .xsession
sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp restart

Please note the change on echo cmd from others workarounds.
Session name 'ubuntu-2d' was changed by 'gnome-fallback'

[Gawarmel (gawarmel)]

Same Problem as stated by Wangzi in #34

the session=gnome-fallback workaroud does not work anymore with 13.10 + and does not seem to come back in 14.04.

This xfce4 solution works, however slow and crappy, and not in a unity desktop:

sudo apt-get install xfce4 xrdp
echo xfce4-session > ~/.xsession
sudo service xrdp restart

My questions:
What is the preferred Ubuntu (Unity) (cross-platform) remote desktop connection? This was always one of the strongest features of UNIX-like operated machines...
I'm still lost in Ubuntu's complexity. Can anyone out there give a summary how to get into the particular code of this? What happened to ubuntu-2d?

Quite embarrassing, isn't it? This bug is discussed since 2011... I just tried upgrading because 12.04 told me at some point must-have 14.04. I will roll back to 12.04 and stay with it until I'm convinced that an upgrade pays off. Why do we sacrifice a *super, perfectly working* feature like the *seamless* Windows 8/7/XP/android xrdp interface? I thought 14.04 is supposed to be an *up*grade?

[beniwtv (beniwtv-deactivatedaccount)]

"What is the preferred Ubuntu (Unity) (cross-platform) remote desktop connection? "

+1 To that question! What are enterprises supposed to do to use Unity?

[NOEL_V (noel-vellemans)]

Hi

What is the preferred Ubuntu (Unity) (cross-platform) remote desktop connection? This was always one of the strongest features of UNIX-like operated machines...
Quite embarrassing, isn't it?

>> AGREED .. every other update of Ubuntu it is getting worse. (working, working unity-2d, working gnome-fall-back.. etc etc .. till.. . NOT-WORKING in 14.04)

>> this is a +5 QUESTION !!

This bug is discussed since 2011...
>> Once more Agreed..

What is the BEST way of bringing this topic to the attention for the Ubuntu-Developers ?
Unity can be good but this missing RDP-connectivity .. makes it not usable in the enterprise.
So, No "RDP" connectivity means not usable to me, and this also means I will roll-back to 12.04.

Anybody that got "freeRDP-server" working ?

[DaleEMoore (daleemoore)]

I gave up on it a while back. Nobody seemed to care about my little bit of
whining. I hope you are more successful! I know of many situations where
multiple users logging in and working on a single Linux server would be a
great big plus.

Good luck!
Dale

On Fri, Apr 25, 2014 at 4:22 AM, NOEL_V <email address hidden> wrote:

> Hi
>
> What is the preferred Ubuntu (Unity) (cross-platform) remote desktop
> connection? This was always one of the strongest features of UNIX-like
> operated machines...
> Quite embarrassing, isn't it?
>
> >> AGREED .. every other update of Ubuntu it is getting worse. (working,
> working unity-2d, working gnome-fall-back.. etc etc .. till.. . NOT-
> WORKING in 14.04)
>
> >> this is a +5 QUESTION !!
>
> This bug is discussed since 2011...
> >> Once more Agreed..
>
> What is the BEST way of bringing this topic to the attention for the
> Ubuntu-Developers ?
> Unity can be good but this missing RDP-connectivity .. makes it not usable
> in the enterprise.
> So, No "RDP" connectivity means not usable to me, and this also means I
> will roll-back to 12.04.
>
> Anybody that got "freeRDP-server" working ?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to a
> duplicate bug report (1069272).
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/846407
>
> Title:
> xrdp is not able to transmitt unity desktop correct - different
> clients
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/posixrdp/+bug/846407/+subscriptions
>

[Roland Giesler (lifeboy)]

I think we should make a new concerted effort to get this addressed:

1. It doesn't seem any client can remotely connection to Unity-3D. That includes X2Go, xrdp, nxclient and possibly others.
2. This is a core component of LTSP for instance, which cannot run Unity-3D either

The least we should be able to get from the Ubuntu Devs is a roadmap or plan. If they don't want to fix it, they should tell us why.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Sam (i41bktobiu5q-launchpadnet)]

Just for the record, xrdp is not working in Xenial and with Unity-2D no longer available, the previous workaround is no longer possible (at least for a Unity desktop).

[Cgiraud (cgiraud)]

UbuntuStudio 17.04 x84, xrdp 0.9.1 + rdesktop 1.8.3: login screen + crash or blue screen without any desktop.

Just after installation, login + crash:
$ rdesktop -g 1272x992 localhost
Autoselected keyboard map fr
ERROR: localhost: unable to connect
$

Later: login + blue screen without desktop:
$ rdesktop -g 1272x992 localhost
Autoselected keyboard map fr
Connection established using plain RDP.
$ rdesktop localhost
Autoselected keyboard map fr
Connection established using plain RDP.
$

[Lenin (gagarin)]

Mind trying with Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04?