headless rdp server and desktop

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headless rdp server and desktop

Postby Socaltom » Wed Sep 17, 2014 3:04 pm

Setting up remote desktop access to your headless server is realtively straightforward.
First you need to install a desktop enviroment
Then you need to install the remote desktop server application.

To install the desktop enviroment you need to install the xorg desktop system ( this is a generic desktop that most of the others build off of)
( if you are installing on a headless server you don't need a video driver, the rdp system will provide it later)

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy xorg-server
')
I'm not sure if its needed, but I also installed the xorg-init package needed to start the x system

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy xorg-xinit')


The wiki address is https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/xorg

However, you don't need to working about the ~/.xinitrc, because the rdp package uses a different location for starting your desktop enviroment


Now, you need to install a window manager or desktop enviroment. Since we are dealing with modest CPU power I recommend a simple window manager, I use icewm

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy icewm')

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/IceWM

Here is a good site for configuring it
http://www.osnews.com/story/7774/IceWM_ ... ow_Manager


Now, if you want to add a web browser etc, this is a good time.

I chose arora, its got javascript support, is realtively light, and firefox threw an error

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy arora')


Now, install xrpd, this is a front end that runs on top of tigervnc, but it will install it for you

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy xrdp')

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/xrdp
you need to modify the /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh file . This file is intended to allow multiple users to pick different desktops. I'm only using icewm, so my file includes only the following

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '#!/bin/sh
exec icewm-session')

You can also modify sesman.ini and xrdp.ini, but for me the defaults work, although they have a bunch of options I don't use.


Now, you can start xrdp

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'systemctl start xrdp')

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'systemctl start xrdp-sesman ')

( order seems to be important here)

If you want them to autostart on reboot
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'systemctl enable xrdp')

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'systemctl enable xrdp-sesman')


to log in, use the rdp client from a windows machine and aim it at the default port 3389 on your server. You should be presented with a login box. Login and the icewm desktop should appear.

It may look a little clunky because the menus aren't populated.

To quickly populate the menus install menumaker

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'pacman -Sy menumaker')


then run $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'mmaker -f icewm ')

the -f forces it to over write previous versions.


The site above has info on editing the menu file if you have an interest.


Good luck
Tom
used to be owned by me
Pink Pogo V2, Black Pogo V3, Zyxel NAS 325 v1,
used to be Adminstrator for
Goflex net, Black V3, Black V2
Now I have a couple of raspberry pi ( 3+ and 4)
Socaltom
 
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