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Linux GUI Desktop on AWS

Linux GUI Desktop on AWS is a pre-configured Amazon Machine Image (AMI) that gives you a full XFCE graphical desktop on Ubuntu Linux in the cloud, accessed remotely over RDP. Launch it, connect with a remote desktop client, and you have a ready-to-use Linux desktop — no manual desktop or RDP configuration required.

It is built for users who need a graphical Linux environment in the cloud — for development, testing, or running desktop applications — without managing the underlying setup.

  • A full XFCE desktop environment on Ubuntu Linux
  • Remote access over RDP using Microsoft Remote Desktop (available from the Mac App Store)
  • Regular image updates with the latest security patches
  1. Find and subscribe to the Linux GUI Desktop image on the AWS Marketplace.
  2. Launch an EC2 instance from the image in a region close to you, choosing an instance size that fits your workload.
  3. Make sure the EC2 instance allows inbound RDP (port 3389) traffic so you can connect with a remote desktop client.

Once the EC2 instance is running, connect to its public IP address using Microsoft Remote Desktop:

  • Username: elm
  • Password: your EC2 instance ID (for example, i-0c7fadc4dc193eca7)

Linux GUI Desktop on AWS: XFCE desktop environment

The XFCE desktop environment.

For a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots, see Connect to Linux GUI Desktop on AWS.

Questions or need help getting started? Contact support@elmcomputing.io.