Connecting to a Azure VM using ssh and RDP

Configure a VM based on the specs

Connecting with SSH

Directly connect using ssh create an inbound rule for ssh, you get the ssh key !

Connecting with RDP

RDP , install ubuntu-desktop, 3389 is the port for RDP , 22 for ssh , 80 for http , 443 for https !

Azure VM RDP Setup Guide

1. Install Desktop Environment (Ubuntu Desktop)

  • Install desktop environment (if not already installed):
    sudo apt update
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop

2. Install and Configure XRDP

  • Install xrdp:

    sudo apt install xrdp

  • Start and enable xrdp service:

    sudo systemctl enable --now xrdp

3. Verify XRDP Service

  • Check if xrdp is listening on port 3389:

    sudo ss -tulpn | grep 3389

  • Check xrdp logs for issues:

    sudo journalctl -u xrdp --no-pager -n 50

4. Ensure Firewall Allows RDP

  • Check firewall status:

    sudo ufw status verbose
sudo iptables -L -n

  • Allow RDP port (3389) in the firewall:

    sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp
sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 3389 -j ACCEPT

5. Check Azure NSG (Network Security Group)

  • Ensure there’s an inbound rule allowing TCP port 3389 in the NSG associated with your VM’s network interface or subnet.

6. Test RDP Connection

  • Use Remmina or another RDP client to connect to the VM:

    remmina --protocol=RDP --server=<VM_IP_ADDRESS>

  • Check port availability with Nmap:

    nmap -p 3389 <VM_IP_ADDRESS>

7. Restart the VM (if needed)

  • Perform a hard restart if you encounter issues:
    sudo reboot

By following these steps, you’ll set up and troubleshoot RDP access to your Azure VM with a GUI.