How do I install a GUI on Lightsail?

Resolution

Install a GUI on Lightsail

Complete the following steps:

1. Open the Lightsail Dashboard and select your Lightsail instance.

2. Choose Networking.

3. Under IPv4 Firewall, choose Add Rules, and then add the following rule:

   Application: Custom Protocol: TCP Port or Range: 3389

4. Choose Create.

5. Use SSH to connect to Lightsail.

6. Confirm the operating system (OS):

   # cat /etc/os-release

7. Install Xfce 4 and xrdp:

   # sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get -y install xrdp xfce4

8. Set Xfce as the user's default window manager:

   echo "xfce4-session" > /home/example-user/.Xclients chown example-user: /home/example-user/.Xclients; chmod u+x /home/example-user/.Xclients

   Note: Replace example-user with your username.

9. Activate xrdp:

   sudo systemctl enable xrdp; sudo systemctl start xrdp

10. (Optional) If Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW) is installed, then add a firewall rule to allow Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) port 3389:

    $ sudo su -  
    # if ! /usr/sbin/ufw status | grep inactive > /dev/null 2>&1;then /usr/sbin/ufw allow 3389/tcp;fi

    Note: To check the status of UFW, run the following command:

    sudo ufw status

11. Set the user password:

    sudo passwd example-user

    Note: Replace example-user with your username.

Connect to Lightsail with the GUI

Complete the following steps:

1. Choose a remote desktop client.
2. Enter the IP address.
3. Enter the user ID and password.

Note: If you receive a "Failed to execute child process "dbus-launch" (No such file or directory)" error when you connect, then install dbus-x11:

sudo apt-get install dbus-x11