XLaunch file for running a windowed desktop environment for Ubuntu (or another Linux Distro) on WSL

ubuntu.xlaunch

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<XLaunch WindowMode="Windowed" ClientMode="NoClient" LocalClient="False" Display="-1" LocalProgram="xcalc" RemoteProgram="xterm" RemotePassword="" PrivateKey="" RemoteHost="" RemoteUser="" XDMCPHost="" XDMCPBroadcast="False" XDMCPIndirect="False" Clipboard="True" ClipboardPrimary="True" ExtraParams="-swcursor -ac" Wgl="True" DisableAC="False" XDMCPTerminate="False"/>

Tested with:

• Ubuntu 18.04 on WSL 1 and 2:
  • mate-session
  • xfce4-session

• Extra info from the Ubuntu wiki here
• Download and install VcxSrv from here
  • Note this XLaunch config is simply the default settings with additional parameters -ac
• Note: I have only tested this under Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS (bionic).
• Under WSL 1
  • As per instructions here in your ~/.bashrc set (edit this with vi with sudo vi ~/.bashrc)

    export DISPLAY=localhost:0.0
    

    Then re-read in .bashrc with source ~/.bashrc
• Under WSL 2
  • As per instructions here in your ~/.bashrc set

    export DISPLAY=$(grep -m 1 nameserver /etc/resolv.conf | awk '{print $2}'):0.0
    

  • And if you have replaced the SSH server as per the instructions here

    # Remove the default install
    apt-get remove --purge openssh-server
    # Update
    apt-get update
    apt-get upgrade -y
    # Install OpenSSH Server
    apt-get install -y openssh-server
    

  • create /etc/ssh/sshd_config with the following settings.

    Port 222
    X11Forwarding yes
    X11DisplayOffset 10
    

• Save in %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup to have this launched at login.
• libGL error: If when you launch a graphical app from the Ubuntu Terminal you see an error as follows:

  libGL error: No matching fbConfigs or visuals found
  libGL error: failed to load driver: swrast
  

  this is fixed by installing Ubuntu MATE Desktop as per the advice here and here as follows.

  sudo su
  apt update && apt upgrade
  apt install ubuntu-mate-desktop --no-install-recommends
  dpkg-reconfigure dbus && service dbus restart
  
  sudo apt-get install mate-desktop-environment-extras
  
  # remove error report and some components: 
  apt remove apport *screensaver* update-notifier blueman
  

• Launch a session with

  mate-session