Ubuntu Server: Install Desktop + XRDP (Fix IPv4, NAT, and “Something Has Gone Wrong” Error)

Posted on by Rico

This guide provides a full step-by-step setup for XRDP on Ubuntu Server, covering:

  • Installing Desktop (XFCE / Xubuntu Desktop)
  • Installing XRDP
  • Force XRDP to listen on IPv4 (0.0.0.0:3389)
  • Fixing NAT/Port-Forward return-path issues
  • Fixing “Oh no! Something has gone wrong.”
  • Avoiding GNOME/Wayland problems

1. Install Desktop Environment (XFCE)

Option A — Xubuntu Desktop (full)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y xubuntu-desktop

Option B — Minimal XFCE (recommended)

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y xfce4 xfce4-goodies

2. Install XRDP

sudo apt install -y xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdp
sudo systemctl start xrdp

Add SSL permissions:

sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert

3. Force XRDP to Listen on IPv4

Edit:

sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

Change:

port=3389

to:

port=tcp://0.0.0.0:3389

Restart:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp xrdp-sesman

Verify IPv4 listener:

netstat -tulpen | grep 3389

Expect:

tcp 0 0 0.0.0.0:3389  LISTEN

4. Fix NAT Connectivity (DNAT + SNAT)

If your router forwards:

public_ip:9250 → 192.168.100.250:3389

You MUST SNAT return packets:

iptables -t nat -A PREROUTING -p tcp --dport 9250 \
  -j DNAT --to-destination 192.168.100.250:3389

iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -p tcp -d 192.168.100.250 --dport 3389 \
  -j SNAT --to-source 192.168.100.254

This ensures the Ubuntu server replies through the same router.

5. Fix “Oh no! Something has gone wrong.” (GNOME/Wayland)

XRDP cannot start GNOME/Wayland → use XFCE.

Install xorgxrdp:

sudo apt install -y xfce4 xfce4-goodies xorgxrdp

Set XFCE as default:

echo "startxfce4" > ~/.xsession

Modify the start script:

sudo sed -i '/^\. \/etc\/X11\/Xsession/i [ -x \/usr\/bin\/startxfce4 ] \&\& exec \/usr\/bin\/startxfce4' /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh

Restart:

sudo systemctl restart xrdp xrdp-sesman

Now XFCE loads properly.

6. Connect via RDP (Windows)

Run:

mstsc

Connect to:

public_ip:9250

or

192.168.100.250

You should now see a stable XFCE desktop session.

✔ Done!

Your server now supports:

  • ✔ Ubuntu Desktop (XFCE)
  • ✔ XRDP working on IPv4
  • ✔ Full NAT traversal through DNAT+SNAT
  • ✔ Stable XFCE without GNOME/Wayland issues