Ubuntu 24.04 LTS GNOME Desktop with RDP and SSH

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS GNOME Desktop provides a ready-to-use graphical Linux workspace for Microsoft Azure. It includes the Ubuntu GNOME desktop, Firefox, Files, Terminal, Text Editor, Git, XRDP remote desktop access, SSH, and UFW firewall protection.

What Is This Offer?

This image turns an Azure virtual machine into a remote Ubuntu desktop. Users can connect graphically through Remote Desktop Protocol or manage the VM from a terminal using SSH. GNOME and XRDP are already installed and configured, reducing the setup normally required for a cloud-based Linux desktop.

Who Is It For?

• Beginners: Learn Ubuntu through a familiar graphical interface.
• Developers: Create remote development, testing, and staging environments.
• IT Administrators: Manage Ubuntu using graphical and command-line tools.
• Students and Trainers: Build cloud-based Linux labs.
• Businesses: Run remote workspaces, internal tools, and browser applications.

What Problems Does It Solve?

• Faster Deployment: GNOME and XRDP are already installed.
• Easy Remote Access: Connect from Windows, Linux, or macOS using an RDP client.
• Reduced Setup: Avoid manually configuring a desktop environment and remote desktop service.
• Flexible Management: Use RDP for graphical access and SSH for administration.
• Cloud Workspace: Access Ubuntu without requiring local Linux hardware.

Included Software

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with GNOME Desktop
• XRDP and xorgxrdp
• OpenSSH Server
• Firefox, Files, Terminal, and Text Editor
• Git, curl, wget, and unzip
• UFW firewall
• Azure Linux Agent and cloud-init

Connect with Remote Desktop

1. Deploy the VM and create an administrator username and password.
2. In the Azure Network Security Group, allow inbound TCP port 3389 from your trusted public IP address.
3. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop, Remmina, or another RDP client.
4. Enter the VM public IP address.
5. Log in using the username and password created during deployment.

Connect with SSH

Allow inbound TCP port 22 in the Azure Network Security Group, then connect with:

ssh username@VM_PUBLIC_IP

Firewall Protection

UFW is installed and enabled. The image allows:

22/tcp    SSH
3389/tcp  Remote Desktop

Check the firewall with:

sudo ufw status verbose

Recommended First Steps

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo ufw status
systemctl status xrdp
systemctl status ssh

Security: Restrict Azure NSG rules for ports 22 and 3389 to trusted IP addresses. Do not expose RDP to the entire internet. Consider Azure Bastion, VPN, or just-in-time access.

Important: Customers are responsible for user accounts, passwords, NSG rules, updates, backups, monitoring, storage, application security, and additional hardening.

No additional software licence fee is charged by this offer. Azure infrastructure charges apply according to the selected VM size, storage, networking, and other resources.

Prepared by ALSOURI LLC.