RDP Z to Z fails - Z to Win10 good

[doobre]

Hi there
Still battling with the broken RDP since I installed a VNC with the wrong desktop environment. Timeshift didn't put 'every little thing back together again', and rdp between the two Zorin PC's is still sick.

I get this result in terminal
xrdp.service - xrdp daemon
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/xrdp.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Sat 2025-10-04 19:18:42 NZDT; 1min 27s ago
Docs: man:xrdp(8)
man:xrdp.ini(5)
Process: 43197 ExecStartPre=/bin/sh /usr/share/xrdp/socksetup (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Process: 43205 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/xrdp $XRDP_OPTIONS (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
CPU: 12ms

Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation systemd[1]: Starting xrdp daemon...
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation xrdp[43205]: [INFO ] address [0.0.0.0] port [3389] mode 1
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation xrdp[43205]: [INFO ] listening to port 3389 on 0.0.0.0
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation xrdp[43205]: [ERROR] g_tcp_bind(7, 3389) failed bind IPv6 (errno=98) and IPv4>
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation xrdp[43205]: [ERROR] trans_listen_address failed
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation xrdp[43205]: [ERROR] Failed to start xrdp daemon, possibly address already in>
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation systemd[1]: xrdp.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILU>
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation systemd[1]: xrdp.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Oct 04 19:18:42 zcdadmin-HP-Z210-Workstation systemd[1]: Failed to start xrdp daemon.
~
~
~
~
and terminal never completes the command, meaning it doesn't go back to the username $.

Local networks shares are working, both win10 and Zorin.

thinking it might be time to do a clean install, which is stupid, just for an RDP issue.

As usual people, any suggestions.

cheers CD

EDIT Update - the files app has refused to open again, so I'm going for a fresh install.

Edit - update x2
The files app won't open but after installing Thunar (which I like) I have file management back.. cheers CD

[Forpli]

You could try to reinstall nautilus (the default filemanager of Zorin core):

sudo apt install --reinstall nautilus

[Ponce-De-Leon]

Run both of Your Zorin Systems in Wayland or X11? You can check that in Settings>About.

[doobre]

@Ponce-De-Leon

Run both of Your Zorin Systems in Wayland or X11? You can check that in Settings>About.

yes both are X11

[doobre]

Hi there
I've got it, the password for the RDP authentication on my remote (well, it's in the cupboard) is resetting itself every time the system is restarted.

[videos remove by me to save space - resend available]

Any suggestions before I reinstall the whole OS ?!?!

cheers CD
P.S. - I have brought the pro version, (every little helps) this doesn't happen on that version.

[doobre]

@Forpli

You could try to reinstall nautilus (the default filemanager of Zorin core):

sudo apt install --reinstall nautilus

Hi there, thanks for your reply.

yes, did that no diff.
cheers CD

[zenzen]

I have no experience with RDP but the error message from your first post suggests that there's another service running that is already listening the same network port.

sudo ss -ntlp

This will list all processes that are running and listening for network connections, and on which ports. If you find something running on port 3389, make a note of the process name that appears on the last column on the right. You can terminate it through System Monitor, searching for that process name or process ID.

Have you checked the firewall settings as well? The port in use is 3389, in case you are running it and need to open that one up.

[doobre]

Hi there, thanks for your reply.

The firewall is disabled.
here's the line from the terminal command:
LISTEN 0 10 *:3389 : users:(("gnome-remote-de",pid=1914,fd=60))
there is only entry with that port number.

But surely the problem is that the RDP authentication password for the receiving computer is changed every time it restarts!?
cheers CD

[zenzen]

So, just to make sure I understand this correctly, the issue is that you can or cannot connect to the remote server? And if you can, is it that you must enter the password every time?

I just noticed that another thread where you're talking about a similar problem, are these two the same issue?

RDP Remmina can't connect to headless Zorin PC - suggestions!

Hi there, I call a headless PC one that doesn't have a monitor/keyboard/mouse attached. The RDP protocol works fine between the two zorin PC's when the remote one has the peripherals are connected. But will not connect from main to remote when not. I can still access all the shares on the remote PC (open/copy/delete/move files) etc, only the RDP will not connect. I am also wanting to have the same access from a remote site on the net, so can someone suggest a better remote desktop app that wi…

And lastly, what client are you using to establish the connection? By default, Remmina comes installed with Zorin OS, or are you using a different one?

[doobre]

Hi there, thanks for your reply.
There are two issues here, both to do with the RDP connection through REMMINA. # 1 was posted before #2.

1. The fact that the RDP connection will fail to connect if:
   a) the remote Zorin PC has gone into screen blank mode
   b) it has no monitor connected.

This issue was apparent before I followed the (now aware of) 'outdated' instructions to get a VNC remote access to the same Zorin PC, setup using tigervnc. I had already tried VNC through REMMINA but failed to get it to work.

2. Is that since I did try those instructions (which didn't work and as well, broke the Nautilus/Zorin file manager).

The Zorin PC will reset it's own RDP authentication, by itself automatically, every time the PC is restarted.
Thus making it impossible to RDP into it because one doesn't know the password it requires.

So may request is/was for suggestions on a fix, before I go ahead and reinstall the Zorin OS from scratch. Something I'd rather not do, since I spent quite some time setting up that machine for my plex, SQBox and Asset media servers.

Hope that clarifies my situation.
cheers CD

[zenzen]

It does, thank you. As I said I've no experience with RDP... I'll try to my hands on a spare computer later today and see if I can figure something out.

[doobre]

@zenzen

It does, thank you. As I said I've no experience with RDP... I'll try to my hands on a spare computer later today and see if I can figure something out.

Thank very much.
Cheers CD

[doobre]

Hi there

Some more poking around revealed:
when a folder is marked as a 'public share' in Thunar, it wasn't actually showing as a share in the network. But if it is marked in the 'Files' app (nautilus) as a share, is does appear as a share.

I have now removed Thunar. This required 2x terminal commands, (the software installer app did nothing).

Regards RDP from main pc to remote.
When the password that is automatically generated by the remote pc, is used, the RDP will connect as expected. If the admin password for that pc is entered instead of the automatically generated password, the RDP will fail to connect.

hope this helps!?
cheers CD

[doobre]

Ok I think I have sorted the sharing issue caused by me using the incorrect/outdated instructions to install tigervnc in zorin core and pro.

Firstly on the remote pc (core), I restored the 'timeshift' image taken before this all started.

Then 'Reinstalling' on both pc's, Zorin desktop and gnome-shell and Nautilus-share and cifs-utils and Remmina and upgrading all available apps, and setting up a smb password in terminal, as well as entering that PW in each rdp link.

commands below.

sudo apt install --reinstall gdm3 ubuntu-desktop gnome-shell

sudo apt install --reinstall zorin-os-desktop

sudo apt update && sudo apt install samba nautilus-share

sudo apt update && sudo apt install cifs-utils

sudo apt update && sudo apt install remmina

sudo apt list --upgradable

sudo smbpasswd -a <username>

===========================

And the 'cherry on the top', I think I also fixed, the RDP connection cutting off as soon as the 'screen blank' time limit is reached, by using a dummy 'HDMI monitor plug'.

So far all seems good, so here's hoping.
Cheers for all replies on this matter. You people are a great help.

cheers CD

[doobre]

@doobre

sudo smbpasswd -a <username>

Hahaha 'not so fast bucko'

This manual setting only last two restarts, now it is resetting the password for remote desktop, automatically by itself again.. bummmm

I need help again people, sorry. Q. what can be wrong with the system not remembering the password assigned to it.?!

EDIT - Q#2
If I install an additional 3rd party VNC program, will it rely on the same settings as the in-built remote desktop setup does in Zorin?? in other words might i have the same problem with any vnc or rdp setup???

cheers CD

[zenzen]

Sorry, I've been quite absent from the forum lately as I've been busy outside. I still haven't got the time to look into this but it sounds to me like this makes sense:

@doobre

When the password that is automatically generated by the remote pc, is used, the RDP will connect as expected. If the admin password for that pc is entered instead of the automatically generated password, the RDP will fail to connect.

The RDP server has its own username and password that you can set. It would be a very bad idea, security-wise, to give away the administrator's password to anyone who needs to connect remotely to this machine.

@doobre

You people are a great help.

You did all the work!

@doobre

EDIT - Q#2
If I install an additional 3rd party VNC program, will it rely on the same settings as the in-built remote desktop setup does in Zorin?? in other words might i have the same problem with any vnc or rdp setup???

If the problem is on the remote host, the server you're connecting to, then I would expect the issue to persist. But I don't think it would share the same settings either way. The Gnome shell used to power the desktop environment has its own internal drivers for networking; A separate third-party client would likely use its own settings.

@doobre

This manual setting only last two restarts, now it is resetting the password for remote desktop, automatically by itself again.. bummmm

I need help again people, sorry. Q. what can be wrong with the system not remembering the password assigned to it.?!

Did you restore to a previous snapshot through Timeshift, maybe?

For SMB, I would recommend setting an entry in the /etc/fstab file which controls the rules for mounting drives, partitions and network shares. You can see an example in the thread below, where you can create a file with the credentials to use, which shouldn't be overwritten by any update or anything.

Thunderbird is not able to access NAS Folder

Yeah, sorry, $HOME is a special variable that points to the user's home directory. There are other similar to this one like $USER that resolves to the username itself, etc. That's good news, it probably means that is using the SMB protocol which is very common for Windows machines. So let's tackle both questions: First, you can instruct the system to mount it automatically by adding a new entry to the /etc/fstab file. It's nearly identical to that command from the command lihould look somethi…

[doobre]

Hi there, thanks for your reply.

I set up the entries in fstab for the shares in the /media/ directory, as are all the other shares. That sorted out the shares issue.

And editing the keyrings sorted out the automatic resetting of the RDP password, which is now staying fixed as desired.

Cheers CD

[ldkuch]

I'm interested in upgrading to Z os18, but 17 finally runs vnc natively so I can remotely connect.

I almost follow what you went through and it sounds so painful! It's there some tutorial so a noob can follow it to set up vnc on os18?

I also want to share at least a folder with Win11 Pro, so I guess I have to figure out Samba again...?

[Ponce-De-Leon]

@ldkuch

I also want to share at least a folder with Win11 Pro, so I guess I have to figure out Samba again...?

For the Samba Issue, there is a first Solution offered by the Dev's:

Zorin 18 - Shared Folders

We have been researching this issue and suspect that there may be an interaction between AppArmor and Samba which is causing this issue on some systems with Zorin OS 18. In order to resolve this issue, please try opening the Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and entering this command: sudo apt remove apparmor-profiles Afterwards, please restart your computer to apply the workaround. You should now be able to use Samba normally. Please let us know if this workaround resolves the issue for you. This would…

[ldkuch]

Thank you. I did see that post. I'll be waiting to finally read how more experienced users are successfully using os 18 with both Samba and vnc. I currently don't have the patience to try all the possible solutions...