Unable to see running applications via RDP to XRDP

Troubleshooting
1

Creating a bug report/issue

Required Information

  • DietPi version | 8.23.3
  • Distro version | bookworm 0
  • Kernel version | 6.1.21-v7+ #1642
  • Architecture | armhf
  • SBC model | RPi 2 Model B (armv71))
  • Power supply used | CanaKit 5V 2.5A
  • SD card used | Samsung EVO+ 32GB

Additional Information (if applicable)

  • Software title | xrdp, jriver
  • Was the software title installed freshly or updated/migrated? fresh
  • Can this issue be replicated on a fresh installation of DietPi? yes

Steps to reproduce

  1. Install DietPi
  2. install lxde & xrdp from DietPi config
  3. Configure autostart to boot to desktop as root user
  4. Reboot
  5. Create empty file on desktop named “root desktop”
  6. Remote in to DietPi as root using Windows RDP
  7. Login is successful and “root desktop” is visible via the remote session.
  8. Open terminal via remote session to confirm you are root.
  9. Move to Pi physically attached to monitor, keyboard & mouse.
  10. Desktop will display “root desktop” blank file but not the terminal window.

Expected behaviour

I would expect to see the terminal window when accessing the physical computer as I am remoted in as root (confirmed via steps above). My use case is actually the reverse (when remoted in, I wish to see an application which autostarts as root) but the behavior is the same. The autostart application is visible on the physical computer but not via the remote session.

Actual behaviour

Please see above.

Extra details

In dietpi.txt I’ve changed:
SOFTWARE_VNCSERVER_DISPLAY_INDEX=0
SOFTWARE_VNCSERVER_SHARE_DESKTOP=1
from 1 & 0 respectively but there was no change in behavior.

In /etc/xrdp/sesman.ini I’ve changed
x11Displayoffset=10
to 0 with no change in behavior.

I’ve had this setup working as expected in earlier versions of DietPi. I don’t recall having to tweak any settings but I may have forgotten.

Thank you for any suggestions,

2

Are you sure you used xRDP to share the physical session? According a RealVNC blog, xRDP is creating virtual desktops only. https://www.realvnc.com/en/blog/vnc-vs-rdp-which-remote-desktop-tool-is-best/ :thinking:

3

I think you’ve got me on the right track. I have used xrdp in the past but in reading back through the tutorials I followed some time ago, an important clarification is that I want the devices to run headless. It looks like I need to use vnc to create a virtual desktop that I then remote into.

Thanks for your help, case closed.