‍Rocky Linux 9 is a powerful operating system that provides a stable and secure platform for various applications. While Microsoft Windows is widely used for remote desktop access, it is also possible to achieve a fully functional remote desktop experience on Rocky Linux 9 using Xrdp, a free and open-source implementation of the Microsoft RDP server. In this article, we will guide you through the process of installing Xrdp with GNOME GUI on Rocky Linux 9, enabling you to access your system remotely with ease.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites in place:

1. A system with Rocky Linux 9 installed and running.
2. Root access to the system.
3. GNOME GUI installed on the system.

If you have met these prerequisites, we can proceed with the installation and configuration of Xrdp with GNOME GUI.

Step 1: Install epel-release

The first step is to install the epel-release package, which provides additional packages and repositories for Rocky Linux 9. Open a terminal and run the following command:

sudo dnf install epel-release

This command will download and install the epel-release package along with its dependencies.

Step 2: Install Xrdp

With epel-release installed, we can now proceed to install Xrdp. Run the following command in the terminal:

sudo dnf install xrdp

This command will download and install Xrdp on your system.

Step 3: Enable Xrdp

Once Xrdp is installed, we need to enable it to start automatically on system boot. Run the following command to start Xrdp:

sudo systemctl start xrdp

To ensure that Xrdp starts automatically on system boot, run the following command:

sudo systemctl enable xrdp

Step 4: Configure Firewall

By default, the firewall on Rocky Linux 9 may block incoming connections to the Xrdp service. To allow remote desktop access, we need to open the required port. Run the following commands in the terminal:

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

These commands will add a rule to the firewall to allow incoming connections on port 3389, which is the default port used by Xrdp.

Step 5: Reboot the System

To ensure that all changes take effect, it is recommended to reboot the system. You can do this by running the following command:

sudo reboot

After the system reboots, it will start in graphical mode.

Step 6: Connect to Xrdp

With Xrdp and GNOME GUI installed and configured, you can now connect to your Rocky Linux 9 system remotely using a Windows Remote Desktop Connection.

1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection application on your Windows computer.
2. Enter the public IP address of your Rocky Linux 9 server in the “Computer” field.
3. Click on the “Connect” button to initiate the connection.

You will be prompted to enter your login credentials for the Rocky Linux 9 system. After successfully logging in, you will have access to the GNOME desktop environment.

If you are hosting your Rocky Linux 9 server on Shape.host’s Cloud VPS, you can find the public IP address of your server in the Shape.host control panel.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this article, you have successfully installed Xrdp with GNOME GUI on Rocky Linux 9. You can now remotely access your system using a Windows Remote Desktop Connection. Xrdp provides a secure and efficient way to manage your Rocky Linux 9 server, offering a fully functional remote desktop experience. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to Shape.host’s 24×7 in-house customer support.

Christian Wells