Tuesday, January 6, 2026

Ubuntu 14 remote desktop Kubuntu 24.04 Plasma 5

Ubuntu 14

sudo apt install krdc


Kubuntu 24.04 Server with Plasma 5.27

sudo apt install xrdp

sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert

sudo systemctl restart xrdp


echo "/usr/bin/startplasma-x11" > ~/.xsession


# Create the session files

nano ~/.xsession

# WITH >

# Essential KDE/Plasma environment variables

export DESKTOP_SESSION=plasma

export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=KDE

export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=KDE

export KDE_SESSION_VERSION=5


# Data directories (adjust if needed for snaps/apps)

export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/plasma:/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/var/lib/snapd/desktop:/usr/share

export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-plasma:/etc/xdg


# Critical: Launch Plasma with DBus (fixes many blue/black screen issues)

dbus-launch --exit-with-session startplasma-x11



nano ~/.xsessionrc

# WITH >

export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=KDE

export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/plasma:/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/var/lib/snapd/desktop

export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-plasma:/etc/xdg

export KDE_SESSION_VERSION=5


# Force software rendering (often fixes blue screen due to OpenGL issues in xRDP)

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1



# Make it executable

chmod +x ~/.xsession


sudo systemctl restart xrdp





Your blue screen issue when connecting via xRDP to KDE Plasma (likely Plasma 6 on Kubuntu 24.04) is a common problem. xRDP often struggles with proper session startup for Plasma, especially due to missing DBus integration, environment variables, or hardware acceleration conflicts in remote sessions.


### Key Fixes to Try

First, ensure no local session is active for the same user (log out from the physical console if logged in graphically, as xRDP doesn't allow concurrent local + remote sessions for the same user without hacks that can cause instability).


Then, simplify and correct your `~/.xsession` file. Your current version has duplicates and may not launch properly. Replace the entire contents with this:


```bash

#!/bin/bash


# Essential KDE/Plasma environment variables

export DESKTOP_SESSION=plasma

export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=KDE

export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=KDE

export KDE_SESSION_VERSION=6  # Use 5 if you're on older Plasma 5.27


# Data directories (adjust if needed for snaps/apps)

export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/plasma:/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/var/lib/snapd/desktop:/usr/share


export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-plasma:/etc/xdg


# Critical: Launch Plasma with DBus (fixes many blue/black screen issues)

dbus-launch --exit-with-session startplasma-x11

```


Make it executable:

```bash

chmod +x ~/.xsession

```


For `~/.xsessionrc` (create if missing), use:

```bash

export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=KDE

export XDG_DATA_DIRS=/usr/share/plasma:/usr/local/share:/usr/share:/var/lib/snapd/desktop

export XDG_CONFIG_DIRS=/etc/xdg/xdg-plasma:/etc/xdg

export KDE_SESSION_VERSION=6  # Or 5 if applicable


# Force software rendering (often fixes blue screen due to OpenGL issues in xRDP)

export LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1

```


### Additional Steps

1. Restart xRDP fully:

   ```bash

   sudo systemctl restart xrdp

   sudo systemctl restart xrdp-sesman

   ```


2. In your RDP client (e.g., Windows Remote Desktop), select the **Xorg** session module (not X11rdp or others) when the xRDP login prompt appears.


3. If still blue:

   - Try a different user account for RDP testing (same user can't be logged in locally).

   - Install a lighter DE like XFCE temporarily to verify xRDP basics work:

     ```bash

     sudo apt install xfce4 xfce4-goodies

     echo "xfce4-session" > ~/.xsession

     sudo systemctl restart xrdp

     ```

     If XFCE loads, the issue is Plasma-specific.


4. Check logs for clues:

   ```bash

   tail -f /var/log/xrdp.log

   tail -f /var/log/xrdp-sesman.log

   ```

   Look for errors about DBus, OpenGL, or session startup.


### Notes on Kubuntu 24.04 + Plasma

Kubuntu 24.04 uses Plasma 5.27 by default (not Plasma 6 yet; Plasma 6 arrived in later updates or 24.10+). If you've upgraded to Plasma 6, xRDP compatibility can be spotty—consider sticking to Plasma 5 or using alternatives like **RustDesk**, **NoMachine**, or Ubuntu's built-in GNOME Remote Desktop (which supports RDP natively on GNOME).

If these don't resolve it, share output from the logs above for more targeted help. This setup works for many on similar KDE/xRDP configs.




tail -f /var/log/xrdp.log

tail -f /var/log/xrdp-sesman.log




tail -f /var/log/xrdp.log

[20251231-12:31:55] [INFO ] Socket 12: AF_INET6 connection received from ::ffff:192.168.0.72 port 53308

[20251231-12:31:55] [INFO ] Using default X.509 certificate: /etc/xrdp/cert.pem

[20251231-12:31:55] [INFO ] Using default X.509 key file: /etc/xrdp/key.pem

[20251231-12:31:55] [INFO ] Security protocol: configured [SSL|RDP], requested [SSL|HYBRID|RDP], selected [SSL]

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] SSL_accept: Failure in SSL library (protocol error?)

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] SSL: error:0A000102:SSL routines::unsupported protocol

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] trans_set_tls_mode: ssl_tls_accept failed

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] xrdp_sec_incoming: trans_set_tls_mode failed

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] xrdp_rdp_incoming: xrdp_sec_incoming failed

[20251231-12:31:55] [ERROR] xrdp_process_main_loop: libxrdp_process_incoming failed




The error in your `/var/log/xrdp.log` (`error:0A000102:SSL routines::unsupported protocol`) is **not** related to the blue screen or Plasma session startup. This is a **TLS handshake failure** during the initial connection setup.


### Why This Happens

Your xRDP server (on Kubuntu 24.04) uses modern OpenSSL, which disables old, insecure TLS versions (TLS 1.0 and 1.1) by default for security reasons.


You're connecting from an **extremely outdated Ubuntu 14.04** client using **KRDC** (KDE Remote Desktop Client). KRDC on Ubuntu 14.04 is based on old FreeRDP libraries that only support TLS 1.0 (or possibly up to 1.1), which your server rejects as "unsupported protocol".


The connection fails **before** authentication or session selection, so you likely see an immediate disconnect or error in KRDC (not even reaching the xRDP login screen or blue Plasma screen).


### Recommended Fixes (Best Options First)

1. **Use a modern RDP client** (strongly recommended – Ubuntu 14.04 is end-of-life since 2019 and insecure):

   - Upgrade your client machine to a supported Ubuntu version (22.04+ or 24.04).

   - Or install a newer RDP client on Ubuntu 14.04:

     - Try Remmina: `sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp`

     - In Remmina, set Security to **TLS** or **Negotiate**.

   - From Windows/Mac/Android: Use the official Microsoft Remote Desktop app (supports modern TLS).


2. **Allow older TLS versions on the server** (less secure – only if you must use the old client and trust your network):

   Edit `/etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini`:

   ```bash

   sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

   ```

   In the `[globals]` section, add or modify:

   ```

   ssl_protocols=TLSv1.2, TLSv1.3, TLSv1.1, TLSv1

   ```

   (Order doesn't matter much; this enables TLS 1.0/1.1.)

   Then restart xRDP:

   ```bash

   sudo systemctl restart xrdp

   ```

   **Warning**: This reduces security – avoid on public/internet-exposed servers.


3. **Force non-TLS (RDP-only) security** (least secure – unencrypted traffic):

   In `/etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini` `[globals]` section:

   ```

   security_layer=rdp

   ```

   Restart xRDP as above.

   In KRDC: Set encryption/security to **Low** or **None** if possible.


### Once Connected

After fixing the TLS issue, if you reach the xRDP login screen but still get a blue Plasma screen, revisit the session config from before (use `dbus-launch --exit-with-session startplasma-x11` in `~/.xsession`, etc.).

Check `/var/log/xrdp-sesman.log` for session-specific errors once the initial connection succeeds.



FAILED TO WORK OUT!!!

No comments:

Post a Comment