XRDP status: Can't open PID file

Question

I have a fresh install of XRDP on a virtual Ubuntu 18.04 machine, and I cannot connect to it via a Windows 10 laptop (the only piece of test equipment I have at the moment.)

The error message from Windows 10 is:

Remote Desktop can't connect to the remote computer for one of the following reasons:

1) Remote access to the server is not enabled
2) The remote computer is turned off
3) The remote computer is not available on the network.

Probably more telling is the status of XRDP on the Ubuntu machine, where I have indicated one line that seems wrong:

____________:~$ sudo systemctl status xrdp
● xrdp.service - xrdp daemon
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/xrdp.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Sat 2020-08-29 20:47:56 CDT; 4s ago
     Docs: man:xrdp(8)
           man:xrdp.ini(5)
  Process: 2551 ExecStop=/usr/sbin/xrdp $XRDP_OPTIONS --kill (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 2566 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/xrdp $XRDP_OPTIONS (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 2558 ExecStartPre=/bin/sh /usr/share/xrdp/socksetup (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
 Main PID: 2567 (xrdp)
    Tasks: 1 (limit: 4682)
   CGroup: /system.slice/xrdp.service
           └─2567 /usr/sbin/xrdp

Aug 29 20:47:55 novakvm systemd[1]: Starting xrdp daemon...
Aug 29 20:47:55 novakvm xrdp[2566]: (2566)(139886408361792)[DEBUG] Testing if xrdp can listen on 0.0.0.0 port 3389.
Aug 29 20:47:55 novakvm xrdp[2566]: (2566)(139886408361792)[DEBUG] Closed socket 7 (AF_INET6 :: port 3389)
----->    Aug 29 20:47:55 novakvm systemd[1]: xrdp.service: Can't open PID file /var/run/xrdp/xrdp.pid (yet?) after start: No such file or directory <----- THIS ONE
Aug 29 20:47:56 novakvm systemd[1]: Started xrdp daemon.
Aug 29 20:47:57 novakvm xrdp[2567]: (2567)(139886408361792)[INFO ] starting xrdp with pid 2567
Aug 29 20:47:57 novakvm xrdp[2567]: (2567)(139886408361792)[INFO ] listening to port 3389 on 0.0.0.0

What is this file, what is meant to be there, is this potentially causing my problem, and what can I do about it?

(Other notes: Port 3389 on the Ubuntu machine is open, and even turning the firewall completely off on the Windows machine and running remote desktop as admin does not help.

Solution

I think it's because xrdp doesn't allow multiple sessions with the same user, and when you open the VM via the virtual manager, it's already consumed. Just for the sake of the test, could you create a new user and try to open a session with it?

Comments

[user3728501]

any info on this? having a similar issue with Debian 10

[Nate T]

@user3728501 What package did you download? Try the command ufw allow rdp

[user3728501]

@NateT I don't remember much about the issue since it was a year ago I commented. Send me a PM and I'll see if I can help you out with your issue

[Nate T]

My fault. I thought yours was the comment that ressurected the post. Didn't notice that it was old as well. Sorry to bother.

[Zanna]

OP suspects that message too and asks "What is this file, what is meant to be there, is this potentially causing my problem, and what can I do about it?". You gave your opinion on the 3rd of these 4 questions - any ideas on the other 3? I can't understand what you mean by "maybe try this path..." what should OP do?

[DieAllNetFlat]

Maybe try to change the path in the config, at least that is what my head is telling me. A reinstallation should match the path to the one I gave too I think. .pid stands for process identifier. Should mean something like where do I find the programm and can I (linux-os) execute it. Nothing more I guess <3