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Davious
Asked: 2010-11-15 09:14:34 +0800 CST

How do I configure my AWS instance to serve a remote desktop so I can use Windows terminal services to access it?

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My evil plan is to serve rdp from an AWS ubuntu instance so I can have a permanent xubuntu desktop as I roam from windows computer to windows computer (or any computer really). It is as easy as running mstsc -v {aws.public.url}.

How, through, ssh, can I have the instance serve a remote desktop?

rdp xubuntu aws

2 Answers

  1. I don't know about running an rds-compatible service, but if you can't find one, VNC should meet your needs - just install a VNC server on AWS, and a VNC client on the windows machines. See e.g. this VNC discussion

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  2. Best Answer

    Note: This answer is now outdated:

    • xrdp no longer needs tightvnc for 11.04.. maybe 10.10 too
      • so, no need to install tightvnc, just install xrpd
      • so, also, the restriction on 64bit machines is lifted

    Thanks to nealmcb's answer and following the tightvnc + xrdp discussion, I've got it working here is my complete list of tasks to set up an mstsc -v able aws:

    Xubuntu not Ubuntu Desktop

    I originally tried an ubuntu desktop, but with a micro instance, the gui performance was too slow, switching to xubuntu gives a reasonably responsive remote desktop

    AWS Setup

    1. Create a Key Pair (save as a .pem file to local machine)
    2. Modify Default Security Group, add RDP, tcp, 3389, 3389, 0.0.0.0/0
    3. Create AWS instance: Canonical ami-508c7839
      • (i386 important due to 64 bug in tightvnc)
      • use this for the user data section

    #cloud-config

    apt_update: true
apt_upgrade: true
packages:
 - xubuntu-desktop
 - indicator-applet-session
 - gnome-themes-selected
 - tightvncserver
 - xrdp

    SSH access on windows

    1. download putty and puttygen
    2. with puttygen: create a .ppk from the .pem
    3. putty {awc.public.url}, ssh auth with .ppk file

    Server Setup

    You might have to wait for the xubuntu-desktop apt-get to finish before the xrdp.ini is available.

    sudo vim /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini
# remove the entries below the xrdp1 block
sudo adduser me
sudo addgroup me admin

    now I can mstsc -v {aws.public.url} into the aws.

    D Keystroke Problem

    • System -> Preferences -> Keyboard Shortcuts
    • Change Show Desktop Shortcut from D to alt-D

    Thanks to the following resources:

    AWS Install Guide

    http://foss-boss.blogspot.com/2010/10/pointnclick-guide-to-running-ubuntu-in.html

    Xubuntu AWS Install Guide

    http://blog.topicbranch.net/2010/08/xubuntu-and-neatx-on-ec2.html

    TightVNC+XRDP

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1077607

    TightVNC 1.3.9 64bit Issues

    https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bug/344264/

    RDP D key Problem

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1595871

    Fast Switch Applet Problem

    http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1365262

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