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Jun 9 • Linux
How I Set Up an Ubuntu VM with QEMU Guest Agent and XRDP on Proxmox
When I spin up a new Ubuntu VM on Proxmox, I like to keep the setup minimal but fully functional. My goal is always the same: get proper integration with Proxmox and enable quick remote access via RDP.
Here’s the exact workflow I use.
Initial Setup After Installation
After installing Ubuntu, I skip all optional extras:
- Ubuntu Pro → I choose “Skip for now”
- Help Improve Ubuntu → I select “No”
Once I land on the desktop, I immediately update everything:
- sudo apt update
- sudo apt upgrade -y
Installing QEMU Guest Agent
One of the first things I install is the QEMU Guest Agent. It makes Proxmox much more aware of what’s happening inside the VM.
- sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent -y
After that, I shut the VM down:
- sudo poweroff
Then on the Proxmox side:
- I remove the installation ISO (Hardware → CD/DVD → Remove)
- I enable the QEMU Guest Agent (Options → QEMU Guest Agent → Enable)
When I boot the VM again, I quickly check if it worked by looking at the Summary tab, if I see the IP address there, I know everything is working correctly.
Setting Up XRDP
For remote access, I usually go with XRDP since it’s simple and works well enough for most use cases.
First, I install it:
- sudo apt install xrdp -y
Then I fix a small but common permission issue:
- sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert
Next, I tweak the XRDP startup script:
- sudo nano /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh
At the top of the file, I add:
- export DESKTOP_SESSION=ubuntu
- export GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE=ubuntu
- export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=ubuntu:GNOME
After saving the file, I restart the service:
- sudo systemctl restart xrdp
Connecting to the VM
At this point, I just grab the IP address from the Proxmox Summary tab and connect using any RDP client (Remmina).
I log in with the same user I created during installation, and that’s it, I have a working GNOME desktop over RDP.
Optional Notes
If I happen to be using UFW, I also open the RDP port:
- sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp
This setup is simple, repeatable, and works reliably for my homelab use cases—especially when I just need quick GUI access to a VM without overthinking it.
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How I Set Up an Ubuntu VM with QEMU Guest Agent and XRDP on Proxmox
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