Remote Desktop Server

These guides assume that the community repo has been enabled.

Remote Desktop Server Based on XRDP and xorgxrdp

This was tested and works for v 3.17.2 with Xfce as the desktop.

First ensure that the desktop is working without remote access (if feasible).

Install xrdp and xorgxrdp:

# apk add xrdp xorgxrdp

Start the necessary services:

# rc-service xrdp start # rc-service xrdp-sesman start

After testing that this works, you may set the services to start automatically:

# rc-update add xrdp # rc-update add xrdp-sesman

That should be all that is needed to connect from a Windows client with its default "Remote Desktop" client. The xrdp configuration file though will contain several services that will not work, so to remove them, edit /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini and remove all lines from, and including: [Xvnc] to the end.

Note: If you are using KDE, please a link as follows so that there is no screen after logging in:

$ ln -s /usr/bin/startplasma-x11 ~/.xinitrc

doas should only be used for that command if ~/.xinitrc is owned by root or by another user, but that would be atypical for a user-specific configuration.

Note: From v3.22 upwards, xrdp is broken in combination with KDE, because only Wayland is supported with KDE: [v3.22]

Remote Desktop Server based on Vino and XRDP

THIS DOES NOT WORK on 3.17.2 with Xfce - Not Yet Deleted in Case it helps others

First of all, make sure that you have a desktop environment properly installed (See: Desktop environments and Window managers).

Next, install vino and xrdp with the following command:

# apk add vino xrdp

Replace the /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini file's content with:

Contents of /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

[globals]
bitmap_cache=yes
bitmap_compression=yes
port=3389
crypt_level=low
channel_code=1
max_bpp=24

[xrdp1]
name=Vino
lib=libvnc.so
ip=127.0.0.1
port=5900
username=ask
password=ask

If you want the XRDP service to start automatically, add the services to the default runlevel:

# rc-update add xrdp # rc-update add xrdp-sesman # rc-update add vino

To start:

# rc-service xrdp start # rc-service xrdp-sesman start # rc-service vino start

Misc

Disabling XRDP Notification and Confirmation

If you do not want the client confirmation before the session being accepted:

export DISPLAY=:0.0

gsettings set org.gnome.Vino notify-on-connect false gsettings set org.gnome.Vino prompt-enabled false

X11vnc

X11vnc enables connection to the active X11 session, so one sees what is on the physical display, to include login screens and onscreen applications. Unlike certain VNC servers that launch a virtual desktop, it does not create an additional X session and is therefore leaner.

Remmina as client

This material is work-in-progress ...

Do not follow instructions here until this notice is removed.
(Last edited by John3-16 on 3 Jan 2026.)

Remmina is a remote desktop client that can connect to servers such as x11vnc, XRDP, and Windows RDP.