In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting up an Ubuntu 22.04 LTS system with the following features:

  1. DLNA server with MiniDLNA: Allows you to stream media files to devices on your network.
  2. Samba for file sharing: Facilitates file sharing between Linux and Windows systems.
  3. Mounting external USB disks: Provides a way to access external storage devices.
  4. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with GNOME: Enables remote access to your Ubuntu desktop.

1. Setting Up DLNA Server with MiniDLNA

DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) allows you to stream media files like videos, music, and pictures to compatible devices within your home network. It’s a great way to make your media library accessible on smart TVs, game consoles, and other media players.

Step 1: Install MiniDLNA

First, we need to install MiniDLNA, a lightweight DLNA server.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install minidlna

Step 2: Configure MiniDLNA

Next, we configure MiniDLNA to point to the directories where your media files are stored.

sudo vi /etc/minidlna.conf

In the configuration file, add the following lines to specify your media directories:

media_dir=V,/media/USB/MOVIES
media_dir=V,/media/USB/TV
media_dir=V,/media/USB/CONCERTS
media_dir=V,/media/USB/NFL

This setup ensures that MiniDLNA serves video files from the specified folders. You can add directories for music and pictures similarly.

Step 3: Start and Enable MiniDLNA

Finally, we restart the MiniDLNA service to apply the changes and enable it to start on boot.

sudo systemctl restart minidlna
sudo systemctl enable minidlna

2. Setting Up Samba for File Sharing

Samba allows you to share files between Linux and Windows systems. This is particularly useful in mixed-OS environments where you need seamless access to files from any device.

Step 1: Install Samba

First, we install the Samba package.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install samba

Step 2: Configure Samba

Next, we configure Samba by editing its configuration file to define our shared directories.

sudo vi /etc/samba/smb.conf

Add the following share definitions:

[FILES]
path = /media/FILES
browseable = yes
read only = no
writable = yes
valid users = sean
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777

[USB]
path = /media/USB
browseable = yes
read only = no
writable = yes
valid users = sean
create mask = 0777
directory mask = 0777

These settings create two shares: one for general files and another for USB storage, making them accessible over the network.

Step 3: Set Permissions and Create Samba User

Set the correct permissions for the shared directories to ensure they are accessible.

sudo chown -R sean:sean /media/FILES /media/USB
sudo chmod -R 0777 /media/FILES /media/USB

Add your user to Samba to manage access.

sudo smbpasswd -a sean

Step 4: Restart Samba Service

Finally, restart the Samba service to apply the changes.

sudo systemctl restart smbd
sudo systemctl enable smbd

3. Mounting External USB Disks

Mounting external USB disks allows you to use external storage devices seamlessly with your system, making it easier to manage large files and backups.

Step 1: Identify USB Disk

Identify your USB disk using the lsblk command.

lsblk

Assume it’s /dev/sdb1.

Step 2: Create Mount Point

Create a mount point for the USB disk.

sudo mkdir -p /media/USB

Step 3: Configure fstab

Get the UUID of the disk.

sudo blkid /dev/sdb1

Add the following line to /etc/fstab:

UUID=A1B2C3D4E5F67890  /media/USB  ntfs  defaults  0  0

Mount all filesystems.

sudo mount -a

This ensures the USB disk is mounted automatically on boot, making it always available without manual intervention.

4. Setting Up Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with GNOME

RDP allows you to access your Ubuntu desktop from another machine, such as a Windows PC, making remote management and access convenient.

Step 1: Install XRDP

Install the XRDP package.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install xrdp

Step 2: Configure XRDP to Use GNOME

Create or edit the .xsession file to use the GNOME session.

echo "gnome-session" > ~/.xsession

Edit the /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh file.

sudo vi /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh

Ensure the file contains the following:

#!/bin/sh
if [ -r /etc/profile ]; then
    . /etc/profile
fi

if [ -r ~/.profile ]; then
    . ~/.profile
fi

# start GNOME
export DESKTOP_SESSION=gnome
export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP=gnome
export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=GNOME
export GNOME_SHELL_SESSION_MODE=ubuntu
export XDG_SESSION_TYPE=x11
export GDMSESSION=ubuntu
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS

exec /usr/libexec/gnome-session-binary --session=ubuntu

This setup ensures that when you connect via RDP, you get a GNOME desktop session.

Step 3: Allow RDP Through the Firewall

Allow RDP connections through the firewall.

sudo ufw allow 3389/tcp

Step 4: Restart and Enable XRDP Service

Restart the XRDP service and enable it to start on boot.

sudo systemctl restart xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdp

Connecting from Windows

  1. Open Remote Desktop Connection: Open the Remote Desktop Connection application on your Windows 11 machine.

  2. Enter the IP Address: Enter the IP address of your Ubuntu machine (e.g., 192.168.0.115) and click “Connect.”

  3. Log In: Use your Ubuntu username and password to log in.

This completes the setup of your Ubuntu 22.04 LTS system with DLNA, Samba, mounting external USB disks, and RDP. You should now have a fully functional media server and remote desktop setup!