Fiberax

Ubuntu Desktop - Getting Started Guide

Your Ubuntu Desktop server based on Ubuntu 24.04 provides a full graphical desktop environment accessible via RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Connect from any device using a standard RDP client - no additional software installation on the server is needed. The desktop is ready to use immediately after your server is created.

Step 1 - Connect via RDP

Your server's IP address and root password are shown on the Server Details page in your client panel. The same credentials are used for RDP, SSH and VNC console access.

Use any RDP client to connect to your desktop:

Platform	RDP Client
Windows	Built-in Remote Desktop (mstsc)
macOS	Microsoft Remote Desktop (App Store)
Linux	Remmina
iOS / Android	RD Client / Remote Desktop

Connection settings:

Host: your.server.ip
Port: 3389 (default)
Username: root
Password: from your client panel

If you placed the server behind a VyOS router on a private network, either configure port forwarding (port 22 for SSH, port 3389 for RDP), or connect over a VPN and reach the desktop on the server's private IP.

Step 2 - Connect via SSH (Optional)

For command-line access, connect via SSH:

ssh root@your.server.ip

Post-Installation

Root Login Warning

When you log in via RDP or SSH, you may see a warning about running as root. This is expected - all our templates use root access by default for convenience so you can configure the server immediately. You can create a regular user account later if needed.

Installing Additional Software

Install software using apt from the terminal or from the XFCE application menu:

# Install Chromium browser
apt update && apt install -y chromium-browser

# Install LibreOffice
apt install -y libreoffice

# Install VS Code
snap install code --classic

OS Updates

To update the system manually:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Fail2Ban - Brute-Force Protection

Your server comes with Fail2Ban pre-configured to protect both SSH and RDP from brute-force attacks.

Rule	Max Attempts	Ban Duration
SSH	5 failed logins	10 minutes
RDP (xrdp)	5 failed logins	1 hour

Useful commands:

# Check banned IPs
fail2ban-client status xrdp
fail2ban-client status sshd

# Unban an IP
fail2ban-client set xrdp unbanip 1.2.3.4

If you accidentally lock yourself out, connect via VNC console in your client panel and unban your IP.

Service Management

xrdp runs via systemd. Common commands:

# Check RDP service status
systemctl status xrdp

# Restart RDP
systemctl restart xrdp

# View xrdp logs
journalctl -u xrdp -n 100

What's Pre-Configured

Dual desktops: XFCE for RDP (lightweight, fast) and Gnome for VNC console in your client panel (emergency fallback)
Display mode: X11 (Wayland is not compatible with RDP on Ubuntu 24.04 - causes black screens)
Desktop update protection: core desktop packages (display server, login manager, xrdp, XFCE) are excluded from automatic updates to prevent RDP breakage. Security updates for other packages continue normally

Software Included

Component	Details
Ubuntu	24.04 LTS
RDP Desktop	XFCE (lightweight, fast)
Console Desktop	Gnome (VNC console fallback)
RDP Server	xrdp (port 3389)
Browser	Firefox
Text Editor	Mousepad
Security	Fail2Ban (SSH + RDP)

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
Black screen after RDP login	SSH in and restart xrdp: `systemctl restart xrdp`
RDP connection refused	Check that xrdp is running: `systemctl status xrdp`. Restart if needed: `systemctl start xrdp`
Can't connect via RDP or SSH	Your IP may be banned by Fail2Ban. Use VNC console in your client panel to unban: `fail2ban-client set xrdp unbanip 1.2.3.4`
Firefox or other apps won't launch	Open a terminal in XFCE and run: `xhost +local:`, then try again
RDP broken after system update	Desktop packages may have been updated manually. SSH in and restart: `systemctl restart xrdp`. Use VNC console in your client panel as fallback
Forgot root password	Use VNC console in your client panel to reset it

Minimum Requirements

Resource	Minimum	Recommended
CPU	2 vCPU	4 vCPU
RAM	4 GB	8 GB
Disk	25 GB	40 GB