I'd like to remotely connect to an Ubuntu 16.04 LTS system over xrdp using the Unity desktop environment.
I have a 14.04 LTS system that I configured to use Xfce for xrdp connections, but I prefer Unity and would like to avoid installing another desktop environment if possible.
Is this possible? And if so, what are the steps to configure it correctly?
Best Answer
------------------Important Update for this topic : ------------------------
It seems that it's possible to use xRDP and Unity Interface even if there are still some minor issues with such setup. (You can see a demo here)
In order to configure your Ubuntu 16.04 to have xrdp connecting to Unity, you would need to perform the following
Full Instructions on how to perform this can be found at http://c-nergy.be/blog/?p=9962
------------------------ End of the Important Update------------------
Remarks : The information provided below is not the most recent information but it still valid. Please be sure to read the Important Update note to get the latest informatioin....
To quickly answer your question, as far as we know Unity desktop cannot be used in conjunction with xrdp. You have no other choices other than installing an alternate desktop environment. Xfce is one option
we prefer to install mate-desktop as altnernate desktop.
With Ubuntu 16.04, you can use mutiny feature of mate desktop to have something similar to Unity (but it's not !) see this post
You could use the xrdp as a proxy server to connect to the Unity desktop using vnc protocol. To be able to perform such configuration, you will need to configure your vnc server to start at bootup and to configure install xrdp on the system you want to access.
In the xrdp login box; you will then need to select the option console instead of Sesman-Xvnc. (all detailed info here) but again here you simply using the xrdp as proxy to basically initiate a vnc connection...
Hope this help