unity-2d and gnome-session are not working anymore with xrdp since Ubuntu 12.10. Unity-2d does not exists in Ubuntu 14.04. xrdp and gnome session are not working well together.

So to be able to use xrdp and Ubuntu 14.04 is to install an alternate desktop interface that will be used while connected through xrdp.

step 1 - install xrdp

sudo apt-get install xrdp

Step 2 - install alternate desktop (we will install mate-desktop because similar to gnome 2 desktop)

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install mate-core mate-desktop-environment mate-notification-daemon

Step 3 - tell xrdp to use the mate-desktop when performing remote desktop session

echo

echo mate-session >~/.xsession

Update info - Important:

witht the final release of ubuntu 16.04, Step 3 seems not to work anymore. To be able to connect via remote desktop and access the mate desktop, you will need to modify the /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh. add after the fi line the following command

mate-session

Save it and give it a try. You should then be able to access your remote desktop

Reference links Install xrdp on Ubuntu 16.04