Slow Ubuntu Remote Desktop using xrdp

Question

I have created an azure virtual machine with the following specifications:

• Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
• F16s_v2 Standard (16 vCPU and 32 GiB RAM)
• SSD unit

Since I need to connect via Remote Desktop, I followed this guide to install xfce and xrdp. Once finished, I connected to the server with Microsoft Remote Desktop but I noticed an excessive slowness in interactivity. I don't think the problem is my internet connection because:

1. By connecting to other Azure Windows VM I don't have the same problem;
2. I asked to a colleague to do a test from his home and he experienced the same problem;

What could be the problem?

Solution 1

I'm using xrdp w/ KDE and these compositor settings appear to have helped quite a bit:

scale method: crisp
rendering backend: OpenGL 2.0
Tearing prevention: Only when cheap
Keep window thumbnail: never
Allow options to block composting: yes

Edit: To update for clarity, these values are in KDE's settings manager under Desktop Effects -> Compositor. They are not client-specific. The example is modifying the server's desktop environment settings to "dumb them down" a little bit.

Since XRDP is delivering the server's desktop via RDP protocol to your client, if XRDP has less data to send it follows that the remote desktop should be more responsive.

There was a question about clients - As far as clients I was using at the time, I'm sure it was KRDC and windows RDP client. I can't recall modifying any default settings on the clients, other than in KRDC making the window full-screen and client native resolution (so I could make it a separate virtual desktop).

Also, there is another response about reducing / eliminating default encryption from the RDP stream should be very helpful in making the entire process less CPU-intensive from end to end, if that's something your environment will allow.

Hope this helps.

Solution 2

I installed Ubuntu server XRDP. Went through Windows and terribly slowed down. I solved this problem. In the /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini file, change crypt_level=high to crypt_level=None

Solution 3

I disabled the compositor, as suggested here: https://github.com/neutrinolabs/xrdp/issues/501#issuecomment-262905321

Hello, I have experiment same problem with xfce and ubuntu 16.04. I have disable compositor in xfce windows settings. Now it's work fine.

It made a huge difference, now everything works fine.

Comments

[DavidPostill]

Welcome to Super User! Please quote the essential parts of the answer from the reference link(s), as the answer can become invalid if the linked page(s) change.

[titusjan]

Update (sept 2020) the Compositor tab is located in Window Manager Tweaks settings.

[Chris]

This made a massive difference for me. Thanks!

[Jire]

Thank you so much! Massive difference from this. The other suggestions aren't as effective if you are already dealing with a high-end CPU.

[Brian Richardson]

After disabling animations and following this suggestion, remote desktop is once again responsive. How many times do you need to encrypt your traffic anyway? I remote desktop over an SSH tunnel.

[Admin]

what user interface is this? Are these settings in your client? Which client do you use?

[Admin]

This sounds like a really good idea, I wasn't aware the stream is being encrypted by default

[Admin]

@Zuabi I have updated the answer to make it more clear