Linux Ubuntu Desktops

1. Install RDP

  1. Execute one of the following sets of instructions:

    Expand for Ubuntu Install instructions

    • Via: xrdp

      1. Install

        sudo apt update && sudo apt install xrdp -y

      2. Confirm

        sudo systemctl status xrdp

      3. Configure

        sudo usermod -a -G ssl-cert xrdp

      4. Restart

        sudo systemctl restart xrdp
        A reboot might be required.
    Expand for Rhel Install instructions:

    • Via: xrdp.x86_64

      1. Install

        sudo dnf install -y xrdp.x86_64

      2. Enable xrdp

        sudo systemctl enable xrdp

      3. Open FW for port 3389

        1. Open port 3389

          sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=3389/tcp --permanent

        2. Restart FW service

          sudo firewall-cmd --reload
    Expand for Azure instructions

    Please reference the Azure doc

  2. Open firewall port 3389 via instructions contained elsewhere in this document.

2. Fedora Server

  • Reference document.

    1. Install the KDE desktop

      KDE Desktop
      sudo dnf group -y install kde-desktop-environment
      KDE Desktop apps
      sudo dnf group -y install kde-apps

    2. Install desktop switcher

      sudo dnf install -y switchdesk switchdesk-gui

    3. Enable boot into Desktop

      sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

    4. If the nvdia driver was installed prior, then run this

      sudo nvidia-ctk cdi generate --output=/etc/cdi/nvidia.yaml

    5. Enable windows minimize/maximize/close buttons

      gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout ":minimize,maximize,close"

    6. Disable Suspend mode

      sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target

    7. Reboot

      sudo reboot

3. Install one or more of the following desktops…​

RDP support will need to be installed in order to access the Desktop remotely via remote desktop.

3.1. LXDE

This is a low resource desktop environment suitable for X Windows or RDP.

  1. Install

    Ubuntu
    sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt-get -y install lxde
    Fedora
    sudo dnf update -y && sudo dnf upgrade -y && sudo dnf -y group install lxde-desktop

3.2. XFce

This is a low resource desktop environment suitable for X Windows or RDP.

  1. Install

    Ubuntu
    sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies -y
    Fedora
    sudo dnf update -y && sudo dnf install @xfce-desktop-environment -y

3.3. Cinnamon

This will take a while…​

  1. Install

    sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt install cinnamon-desktop-environment -y

  2. Verify

    cinnamon --version
    Example
    Cinnamon 5.2.7

3.4. GNOME

GNOME is probably installed by default.

  1. Update the system first

    sudo apt update -y && sudo apt upgrade -y

  2. Then one of the folowing:

    1. Do this for a minimal install:

      800MB
      sudo apt -y install ubuntu-desktop-minimal

    2. Or this one for a full install:

      2GB
      sudo apt -y install ubuntu-gnome-desktop

  3. GNOME Tweaks

    sudo apt -y install gnome-tweaks

4. Select default desktop

  1. View available Desktops and Select a different one

    Ubuntu

    1. Run

      sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

    2. Choose Desktop

      Example desktops
      There are 2 choices for the alternative x-session-manager (providing /usr/bin/x-session-manager).

  Selection    Path                       Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
* 0            /usr/bin/gnome-session      50        auto mode
  1            /usr/bin/cinnamon-session   50        manual mode
  2            /usr/bin/gnome-session      50        manual mode

Press <enter> to keep the current choice[*], or type selection number:
    Fedora

    1. Install

      sudo dnf install -y switchdesk switchdesk-gui

    2. Switch

      switchdesk xfce