Installing XFCE and XRDP on openSUSE

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Welcome to this tutorial where we’ll guide you through installing the lightweight XFCE desktop environment and XRDP, an open-source remote desktop protocol server, on your openSUSE system. This setup is ideal for those looking to run a remote desktop on a lightweight environment.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have a running openSUSE system and root privileges. Getting everything set up involves a few steps, which we will go through now.

Step 1: Update Your System

Always start with an updated system to ensure all your software is up to date. This can help avoid conflicts and issues during installation:

sudo zypper refresh
sudo zypper update

Step 2: Install XFCE Desktop Environment

Installing XFCE is straightforward. Execute the following commands to install XFCE along with necessary components:

sudo zypper install -t pattern xfce

Step 3: Install XRDP

Next, install the XRDP server to allow remote desktop connections:

sudo zypper install xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdp
sudo systemctl start xrdp

Step 4: Configure XRDP

To connect seamlessly, configure XRDP by modifying the start-up script:

sudo bash -c 'echo "startxfce4" > /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh'

Step 5: Connecting to your XFCE desktop

After installation and configuration, use a Remote Desktop client from another machine to connect to your openSUSE system. Use the IP address of your openSUSE system and default XRDP port 3389.

Additional Tips

  • Firewall Configuration:
    Ensure your firewall allows traffic on port 3389, which XRDP uses:

    sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=3389/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
  • Performance Optimization:
    For better performance, especially over slow connections, consider installing and configuring xrdp-sesman for session management.

Conclusion

🎉 Congratulations! You now have a functional XFCE desktop environment on your openSUSE system accessible via XRDP. This setup provides a solid base for using openSUSE as a remote workstation, combining the efficiency of XFCE with the accessibility of remote desktop functionality.

Remember, keeping your system updated and regularly checking for any security updates is crucial, especially when running network services like XRDP.

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