Remote Desktop

Note

This guide is applicable only to users who requested Remote Desktop. Examples use roselab1, but the same principles apply to roselab2~4.

Quick Start

Setting Up Permanent Port Mapping

To set up a permanent TCP port mapping for Remote Desktop using the common utilities:

1. Navigate to the common utilities directory:

   cd /public/common-utilities/

2. Run the client script:

   python client.py

3. Choose option 1: "Add or delete port mapping"

4. Select "Add a new port mapping"

5. When prompted, enter the following details:

   • Source port: Choose an available port (e.g., 25309, if your range is 25300-25399)
   • Destination port: 3389 (RDP's default port)
   • Protocol: TCP

6. Confirm your choices when prompted

After setting up the TCP mapping, you can connect to your Remote Desktop directly using the address rdp://roselab1.ucsd.edu:25309 (replace 25309 with your chosen port number if different). This is the only option for mobile devices that don't support SSH forwarding.

Note

Remember to use a strong password for your RDP connection, especially when using direct port mapping.

SSH Port Forwarding

If you don't like the less secure permanent mapping, use SSH port forwarding to access your Remote Desktop service:

1. If you've configured your .ssh/config file:

   laptop$ ssh -fN -L 3389:localhost:3389 roselab1

2. If you haven't configured .ssh/config:

   laptop$ ssh -fN -L 3389:localhost:3389 ubuntu@roselab1.ucsd.edu -p <ssh-port> -i path/to/keyfile

These commands initiate a background connection forwarding your local port 3389 to the remote display server. Connect to the desktop at rdp://localhost:3389 using compatible software. You may need to rerun the command if the network environment changes.

Using Visual Studio Code

If you're using Visual Studio Code with the Remote SSH extension:

1. Connect to your RoseLab server.
2. Go to the "Ports" view in the left sidebar.
3. Click on "Forward a Port" and enter 3389.
4. Connect to the desktop at rdp://localhost:3389.

Troubleshooting Port Occupancy

If you encounter a "port already in use" error:

For macOS/Linux:

sudo lsof -i :3389

For Windows (PowerShell):

Get-NetTCPConnection -LocalPort 3389

These commands will show processes using port 3389. You can then close the conflicting process or choose a different port.

Verified Clients

Connect to RDP using these clients by saving your given credentials as a new user account and adding the appropriate link.

WARNING

The RDP account and password are your Ubuntu account and password. Change the password with sudo passwd ubuntu. Use a strong password, especially for publicly accessible services.

Mac OS

Microsoft Remote Desktop

iOS

Microsoft Remote Desktop

Windows

Microsoft Remote Desktop

Linux

Remmina

Feel free to suggest additional options for this list.

Common Troubleshooting

xRDP shows only black screen after authentication windows

This issue often occurs when you've logged into the machine through RDP for multiple sessions.

Solution 1

1. Check your xrdp sessions:

   ps aux | grep xrdp

   You should see multiple running xOrg processes.

2. Kill all sessions:

   sudo pkill -9 xrdp
   sudo pkill -9 Xorg

3. Restart the xrdp service:

   sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Solution 2

If Solution 1 doesn't work, run reboot to restart your container, then try connecting again.

Enabling multiple concurrent xRDP sessions

Follow Workaround 3 in this article:

1. Open /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh:

   sudo nano /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh

2. Locate test -x /etc/X11/Xsession && exec /etc/X11/Xsession and add above it:

   unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
   unset XDG_RUNTIME_DIR

3. Save the file and restart the xrdp service:

   sudo systemctl restart xrdp

Note: This workaround may cause some software to complain if already in use in existing sessions.

Adding more software and features

For a more feature-rich development environment (e.g., with PyCharm), install additional software:

sudo apt install gnome-software
sudo snap install snap-store
sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Consider trying other desktop environments like KDE Plasma Desktop and customizing your setup.

Note

Replace roselab1 with your assigned server (roselab2, roselab3, or roselab4) in all examples.