How to Install a Desktop Environment on Your VPS

RackWorks offers four desktop environments as one-click marketplace applications: GNOME, KDE Plasma, XFCE, and Cinnamon. Each installs a complete graphical desktop on your VPS and sets up Remote Desktop (RDP) access automatically, so you can use your server like a regular remote computer.

Which desktop environments are available

Install times for KDE, Cinnamon, and XFCE are measured from real installs. GNOME's is an estimate shown during installation; actual time varies with your plan's resources and current network conditions.

Requirements: Desktop environments are available on KVM VPS plans only (not LXC), running Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Debian. Only one desktop environment can be installed per VPS at a time. GNOME requires a plan with at least 4 vCPU cores; the other three require at least 2 vCPU cores. If your current plan doesn't meet the minimum, the app will show as unavailable, or will queue and wait until you upgrade your plan.

Installing a desktop environment

1. Log into the Client Portal and select your VPS under "My Services."
2. Click the Apps tab, then open the Desktops category (or search for the one you want).
3. Click Install on the desktop environment you want.
4. The app card shows live progress: Queued, then Installing (see install times above), then Installed.
5. Once installed, the same card displays your connection details: host, port, username, and password, plus a short "how to connect" note.

The installer also creates a dedicated login account for the desktop and opens the required port on your VPS firewall automatically. You don't need to run any commands yourself.

Your connection details

After installation, find your credentials on the same Apps tab card, under "Credentials":

• Host: your VPS's IP address
• Port: 3389 (the same port for all four desktop environments)
• Username: rdesktop, a separate account created specifically for the desktop, distinct from your root/SSH login
• Password: a unique password generated for you at install time (click Show or Copy on the card)

Important: Use the rdesktop username and password shown on the Apps tab to connect, not your VPS root password or SSH key. The two accounts are separate.

Connecting to your desktop

Windows (Remote Desktop Connection)

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection (search for "Remote Desktop" in the Start menu).
2. Enter your VPS IP address and click Connect.
3. When prompted, enter the rdesktop username and password from the Apps tab.
4. You'll see a certificate warning because the connection uses a self-signed certificate. This is expected on every desktop environment we offer. Click through to continue.

macOS (Microsoft Remote Desktop)

1. Install Microsoft Remote Desktop from the App Store if you don't already have it.
2. Add a new PC, entering your VPS IP address as the PC name.
3. Add a user account with the rdesktop username and password.
4. Connect. Accept the certificate warning when prompted.

Linux (Remmina)

1. Install Remmina if it isn't already on your system: apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp
2. Create a new connection, set the protocol to RDP, and enter your VPS IP address.
3. Enter the rdesktop username and password.
4. Connect, accepting the certificate warning if shown.

First connection: Your first login may take a little longer than usual while the desktop session starts. This is normal. Once connected, you'll have a full graphical desktop, with a file manager, terminal, and the standard application set for that desktop environment.

Power off and restart: Shutting down or restarting from inside the desktop's own menu is disabled on purpose. A VPS that's powered off from inside its own desktop can't turn itself back on. Use the Client Portal to power off, restart, or start your VPS instead.

Troubleshooting

Connection refused / can't reach the server on port 3389: Confirm the app shows "Installed" (not "Installing" or "Failed") on the Apps tab. If it just finished installing, wait a minute for the service to fully start. Check your local network or corporate firewall isn't blocking outbound port 3389.

Installation still shows "Installing" after a long time: If it's been significantly longer than the install time shown on the card, or the card shows "Failed," check the error message on the card, or reach out to support with your service ID.

Black screen after connecting: Wait 30-60 seconds for the desktop session to finish loading before assuming something is wrong. If it persists, disconnect and reconnect once. If the problem continues, contact support.

Session disconnects immediately after login: Double-check you're using the rdesktop username and password from the Apps tab, not your VPS root credentials. A wrong password will typically reject the connection outright, but a session that connects and then drops can also indicate the desktop is still finishing its first-time setup, try again after a minute.

Desktop feels slow or laggy: These are software-rendered desktops (no GPU passthrough), so performance depends heavily on your plan's CPU and your own connection quality. XFCE is the lightest option and does not use GPU compositing, so it will generally feel the most responsive. If you're on GNOME, KDE, or Cinnamon and performance feels sluggish, consider switching to XFCE instead, or check whether your plan meets the recommended vCPU minimums above.

Limitations

• Available on KVM plans only; not supported on LXC.
• Only one desktop environment can be installed per VPS. Remove the current one from the Apps tab before installing a different one.
• GNOME requires a plan with at least 4 vCPU cores. KDE, Cinnamon, and XFCE require at least 2 vCPU cores.
• These are remote graphical desktops without GPU acceleration, not suited to GPU-intensive applications or gaming.