How to set up xrdp on the AWS Kali image

https://gist.github.com/Erreinion/f2...d9874dc667e998

This took me a long time to figure out and I used a combination of a handful of online tutorials and a lot of trial and error. I figured others would like a concise guide for this problem. I have not tested on a local Kali image, but I imagine much of the config would work.

OS: Kali Linux 2016.2
AMI: Updated 19 Oct 2016

Bash commands:

# Upgrade OS

Code:

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sudo apt-get update -y && apt-get upgrade  -y
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y

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# Get required packages

Code:

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sudo apt-get install xrdp lxde-core lxde tigervnc-standalone-server -y

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# Set the session manager

Code:

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sudo update-alternatives --config x-session-manager

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# choose xfce4-session

# New sudo user for password-based connection (ec2-user uses an SSH key)

Code:

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sudo useradd -m kali
sudo passwd kali
sudo usermod -a -G sudo kali
sudo chsh -s /bin/bash kali

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# edit xrdp.ini - reducing colour depth reduces bandwidth and can resolve black screen issues

Code:

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sudo nano /etc/xrdp/xrdp.ini

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autorun=sesman-any
max_bpp=16
[sesman-any]
ip=127.0.0.1
# changed username and password to the kali user

# Allow more than root to access the system

Code:

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sudo nano /etc/X11/Xwrapper.config

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allowed_users=anybody

# start services

Code:

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sudo service xrdp start
sudo service xrdp-sesman start

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# configure services to auto-start on boot

Code:

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sudo update-rc.d xrdp enable
sudo systemctl enable xrdp-sesman.service

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Tests:
# Test: services should be green and active

Code:

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sudo service xrdp status
sudo service xrdp-sesman status

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# Test: use an rdp client
Connecting to the Kali IP with an RDP client and the new user's password should present you with the Kali desktop.

# Test: launch Wireshark
Launch Wireshark to see if it launches at all. This was on test that failed when I tried to use VNC or other RDP options and configs.

https://cloud.githubusercontent.com/...06802b8ba4.jpg

How do I fix this?

Try Harder.
I realized that the reason xrdp doesn't work was because the folder /var/run/xrdp isn't made when the xrdp service is started.
Before starting services

Code:

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mkdir /var/run/xrdp

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then after you start services, we need to be sure that folder is made when the computer boots. /var/run is wiped on reboot so:
edit /etc/rc.local with a text editor. add

Code:

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if [ ! -d /var/run/xrdp ]; then
  mkdir /var/run/xrdp/
  chown root:root /var/run/xrdp
fi

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Also, you don't need to switch from gnome to lxde if you start with the LXDE kali version.

Thanks to the guys in ##linux on freenode for making fun of me enough to go research this.

its showing login failed for display 0 after i login via sesman on rdp client.

make sure you run /usr/sbin/xrdp-sesman before you login