Xubuntu 12.04 + XAMPP PPA + XRDP + VMware Tools

Xubuntu 12.04 is out for a while and it includes a faster way to install XAMPP package for web developers as well.

Just sum up the steps and procedures to bring up new Xubuntu server VM as follows:


After basic installation of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Server Edition, try installing a package as follows:

$ sudo apt-get install python-software-properties

to get add-apt-repository command working. This is particularly used for PPA repository.

Perform the followings to get XAMPP package from repository:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:upubuntu-com/web

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo apt-get install xampp

XAMPP directory should be under opt directory. To start XAMPP, type the command:

$ sudo /opt/lampp/lampp start


To install basic GNOME desktop 

$ sudo apt-get update

$ sudo apt-get upgrade

$ sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends ubuntu-desktop


To install light weight desktop install xfce, using the following command:

$ sudo apt-get install xubuntu-desktop


To install VMware tools:

$ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Go to vmware "VM" tab to install vmware tools

Proceed with instructions provided.

Keep it in mind whenever you update Ubuntu (kernel version changed ) you need to run the following script again:

$ vmware-config-tools.pl

I like SSH as it's straight forward and simple to use. What about using graphical application like SVN client running on a remote desktop? Apart from VNC server, XRDP is an alternative for remote GUI control.

Installation of xrdp with command:


Before anything, it's recommended to have upgrade and reboot first:

$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get upgrade
$ sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
$ sudo reboot

Now it's ready to install xrdp package:

$ sudo apt-get install xrdp

Edit File "/etc/xrdp/startvm.sh" for xrdp session manager settings:

Replace the last line from ". /etc/X11/Xsession" to "/usr/bin/xfce4-session"

Try the command to restart session manager:

$ sudo /etc/init.d/xrdp restart

After a reboot, a xfce xrdp session should be ready for connection. With Windows Remote Connection Client, it's easy to conenct to the remote desktop on Xubuntu server.