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.
What’s included
Section titled “What’s included”- 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
Launch on AWS
Section titled “Launch on AWS”- Find and subscribe to the Linux GUI Desktop image on the AWS Marketplace.
- Launch an EC2 instance from the image in a region close to you, choosing an instance size that fits your workload.
- Make sure the EC2 instance allows inbound RDP (port 3389) traffic so you can connect with a remote desktop client.
Connect to the desktop
Section titled “Connect to the desktop”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)

The XFCE desktop environment.
For a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots, see Connect to Linux GUI Desktop on AWS.
Support
Section titled “Support”Questions or need help getting started? Contact support@elmcomputing.io.