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I am trying to configure XRDP on my Xubuntu 24.04 machine to allow remote connections from another Xubuntu 24.10 Linux machine (via VPN, same network).
My goal is to create a new XFCE session through XRDP, which provides the same desktop experience as my local session, without interfering with any user that might be physically present at the machine.

What I am trying to achieve

  • I want to connect remotely and start a new session, not take over the existing local session.
  • This new session should offer the same XFCE environment as my local desktop, including:
    • Panels and launchers in the same positions.
    • Desktop layout and configurations as I’ve set them locally.
    • The same user profile experience as when logging in physically at the console.
  • I need this remote session to start even if nobody is logged in locally.

Note: On standard Ubuntu 24.04 (GNOME), there is built-in support for remote desktop via RDP (GNOME Remote Desktop).
It allows remote users to connect through RDP and either share the existing session or create a new one, depending on the setup.
I would like to achieve a similar behavior on Xubuntu, where I can create a new remote session, with my XFCE desktop environment, that mirrors the experience I have when logged in locally.

What I have tried

  • VPN access is working fine. It's like I'm on the local network.

  • XRDP is installed and running.

  • Packages installed:

    • xorgxrdp
    • dbus-x11
    • xfce4 and xfce4-goodies

  • /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config:

    allowed_users=anybody needs_root_rights=no

  • /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh contains:

    #!/bin/sh if [ -r /etc/default/locale ]; then . /etc/default/locale export LANG LANGUAGE fi exec startxfce4

  • I also tried adding export DISPLAY=:10 in startwm.sh.

  • I created executable ~/.xsession and ~/.Xclients with exec startxfce4.

  • .Xauthority has correct ownership and permissions.

What happens

  • XRDP successfully establishes a connection, creating a new session on display :10.
  • Xorg seems to start fine, but startxfce4 exits immediately.
  • On the client side (Remmina RDP), I see a black screen for a few seconds and then the connection closes.
  • xrdp-sesman.log reports: 
    Window manager exited quickly
  • .xorgxrdp.10.log shows the X server terminating cleanly without errors.

What works (as an alternative)

NoMachine Free works, but it only connects to the local physical session, which I do not want, because it disturbs any local user, in addition, there may be no active session (PC just turned on).

The core question

How can I configure XRDP on Xubuntu 24.04 to start a new XFCE session that loads my full user environment (panels, launchers, desktop layout), providing the same experience as logging in locally, without disturbing local users, or without having any active session?

Notes

  • I do not need multiple concurrent remote sessions.
  • I only need one remote session, separate from the physical console.
  • I prefer a solution that allows me to replicate the same user experience I have locally.
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You have to determine that problem is xfce releted or not.

So for this replace "startxfce4" with "xterm", "dwm" like then see the results.

Launct your remote Xorg from different vt if an Xorg session is already exists and active there.

Because of my REP and cant make comments.

Edit: Is Xorg allows more than one sessions(remote or not) active at the same time?

If ok then xfce4 allows more than one sessions(remote or not) active at the same time?

Well, to fix my own fault above, strongly possibly that remote Xorg have no business with "vt" but not sure.

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  • I confirmed XRDP + Xorg works fine: xterm launches with window decorations after xfwm4 starts. The issue was XFCE4, not XRDP. Commented Mar 16 at 21:14

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