[SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

liamkokur · 2025-02-11 22:23:41

Hi there!
How to remove the Activities panel? Disable, delete, destroy, annihilate. I'm tired of searching, please help. I've been suffering for a week.
AlmaLinux 8.1. XFCE. I don't know which version, may be 4.18. xfce4-about reports -bash: xfce4-about: command not found.
https://prnt.sc/eTaYWDEzdiop

Last edited by liamkokur (2025-02-22 23:27:15)

eriefisher · 2025-02-11 23:49:33

It's just the xfce4-panel. Go into the setting then select panel settings. You should see an option to remove panel. Activities must be something set up by your distro. Looks like a menu.

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 17:51:38

eriefisher wrote:

It's just the xfce4-panel. Go into the setting then select panel settings. You should see an option to remove panel. Activities must be something set up by your distro. Looks like a menu.

No, xfce4-panel doesn't have this panel in its settings. It has only one panel, which is at the bottom, and Activities are at the top, and I haven't found yet (I've been looking for a week now) how to get to it.
https://prnt.sc/Pf8lYzNqp5OZ

eriefisher · 2025-02-12 18:07:37

If you click on "Panel 1" is there a drop down exposing "Panel 2"? Either that or there will is another panel installed. Check with your distro.

ToZ · 2025-02-12 18:41:23

The top panel looks like the gnome top bar. @liamkokur, are you running xfce4-panel in a gnome session?

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 19:23:34

ToZ wrote:

The top panel looks like the gnome top bar. @liamkokur, are you running xfce4-panel in a gnome session?

I don't know. I'm an application programmer, I need to run node js code, I don't know much about Linux. I used CentOS before, it was somehow easier there. I installed AlmaLinux minimal install on VPS (they don't have CentOs), then installed XFCE, XRDP according to the instructions, now I'm trying to bring Desktop to a familiar look, and this panel is just driving me crazy. I found xfce4-settings-manager, xfce4-panel in /usr/bin - it all works and I can manage it, but I can't get to this Activities panel. Maybe you're talking about this:
https://prnt.sc/JUxC4roBexta

yum update
yum install epel-release
/usr/bin/crb enable
rpm -qi epel-release
yum --enablerepo=epel group
yum groupinstall "Xfce" "base-x"
echo "exec /usr/bin/xfce4-session" >>  ~/.xinitrc
systemctl set-default graphical
reboot
yum install xrdp
systemctl start xrdp
systemctl enable xrdp
systemctl status xrdp
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=3389/tcp
firewall-cmd --reload

Added later 02 min 59 s:

eriefisher wrote:

If you click on "Panel 1" is there a drop down exposing "Panel 2"? Either that or there will is another panel installed. Check with your distro.

I turned off Panel 2. It was a small panel with five icons. I can add it back, but it is definitely not the Activites panel.

Last edited by liamkokur (2025-02-12 19:32:09)

ToZ · 2025-02-12 19:40:32

Where are you connecting from? What xrdp parameters are you using to connect?

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 19:49:22

ToZ wrote:

Where are you connecting from? What xrdp parameters are you using to connect?

From my laptop. Just ip and port. I am use Remote Desktop Manager.

ToZ · 2025-02-12 20:11:03

What operating system is running on your laptop? Windows?

If so, that makes no sense. Can you post back from the remote session, the output of:

ps -ef | grep -E 'gnome|xfce'

...as well as the contents of /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh.

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 20:25:50

ToZ wrote:

What operating system is running on your laptop? Windows?
If so, that makes no sense. Can you post back from the remote session, the output of:
ps -ef | grep -E 'gnome|xfce'
...as well as the contents of /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh.

gdm         1374    1229  0 11:51 tty1     00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gdm-wayland-session --register-session dbus-run-session -- gnome-session --autostart /usr/share/gdm/greeter/autostart
gdm         1394    1374  0 11:51 tty1     00:00:00 dbus-run-session -- gnome-session --autostart /usr/share/gdm/greeter/autostart
gdm         1396    1394  0 11:51 tty1     00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-session-binary --autostart /usr/share/gdm/greeter/autostart
gdm         1441    1396  0 11:51 tty1     00:00:18 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
gdm         1548       1  0 11:51 tty1     00:00:00 /usr/libexec/at-spi2-registryd --use-gnome-session
root        2199    2175  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-session-binary
root        2305    2181  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/at-spi2-registryd --use-gnome-session
root        2323       1  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/bin/gnome-keyring-daemon --start --components=pkcs11
root        2331    2199  2 12:01 ?        00:04:54 /usr/bin/gnome-shell
root        2378    2181  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/gnome-shell-calendar-server
root        2532    2513  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-calendar-factory-subprocess --factory all --bus-name org.gnome.evolution.dataserver.Subprocess.Backend.Calendarx2513x2 --own-path /org/gnome/evolution/dataserver/Subprocess/Backend/Calendar/2513/2
root        2556    2544  0 12:01 ?        00:00:00 /usr/libexec/evolution-addressbook-factory-subprocess --factory all --bus-name org.gnome.evolution.dataserver.Subprocess.Backend.AddressBookx2544x2 --own-path /org/gnome/evolution/dataserver/Subprocess/Backend/AddressBook/2544/2
root        2769    2181  0 12:05 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib64/xfce4/xfconf/xfconfd
root        2833    2827  0 12:06 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib64/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib64/xfce4/panel/plugins/libsystray.so 6 31457288 systray Status Tray Plugin Provides status notifier items (application indicators) and legacy systray items
root        2834    2827  0 12:06 ?        00:00:00 /usr/lib64/xfce4/panel/wrapper-2.0 /usr/lib64/xfce4/panel/plugins/libactions.so 14 31457289 actions Action Buttons Log out, lock or other system actions
root        3148    2827  0 12:22 ?        00:00:07 xfce4-terminal
root       10444    4009  0 15:18 pts/1    00:00:00 grep --color=auto -E gnome|xfce

I don't have startwm.sh

total 372
drwxr-xr-x    3 root root  4096 Feb 12 15:23 .
drwxr-xr-x. 102 root root  4096 Feb 12 14:58 ..
-rw-r-----    1 root xrdp  1094 Feb 10 15:39 cert.pem
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  1740 Dec 24 08:09 gfx.toml
-rw-r-----    1 root xrdp  1704 Feb 10 15:39 key.pem
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 14452 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000405.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8751 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000406.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10943 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000407.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10674 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000409.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8724 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000040a.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10879 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000040b.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8744 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000040c.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10863 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000410.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 14358 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000411.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 14993 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000412.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8853 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000414.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10914 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000415.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  9168 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000416.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 11320 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000419.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10879 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000041d.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8690 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000807.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 14592 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000809.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 14584 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000080a.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8752 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000080c.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8752 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000813.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10876 Dec 24 08:09 km-00000816.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  8690 Dec 24 08:09 km-0000100c.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 13990 Dec 24 08:09 km-00010409.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 13968 Dec 24 08:09 km-19360409.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  1297 Jan  5 05:38 openssl.conf
drwxr-xr-x    2 root root  4096 Feb 10 15:39 pulse
-rw-r-----    1 root xrdp  2939 Feb 10 15:39 rsakeys.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  7508 Jan  5 05:42 sesman.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root     0 Feb 12 15:23 txt
-rw-r--r--    1 root root 10617 Jan  5 05:42 xrdp.ini
-rw-r--r--    1 root root  3760 Dec 24 08:09 xrdp_keyboard.ini

ToZ · 2025-02-12 21:51:07

Somehow you are running both gnome (gnome-session-binary) and Xfce (xfce4-panel). xfce4-session, what you wanted to start, isn't running (probably because gnome-session-binary is running). And also not having a startwm.sh file is strange as well.

Can you try this? Create the file /etc/xrdp/startwm.sh file with the following content:

#!/bin/sh
unset DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS
exec startxfce4

...and make the file executable.

Then try connecting again and see if its any different.

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 22:22:20

Did it. No changes.

ToZ · 2025-02-12 22:49:42

Can you post back:

journalctl --user -b0 | grep xrdp-sesexec

liamkokur · 2025-02-12 23:00:14

ToZ wrote:

Can you post back:
journalctl --user -b0 | grep xrdp-sesexec

No journal files were found.

ToZ · 2025-02-12 23:58:27

Hmmm. Try:

journalctl -b0 | grep xrdp-sesexec

...I noticed you're logging in as root.

liamkokur · 2025-02-13 18:14:21

Yes, I'm just experimenting, trying to figure it out and set up the system so that the user already knows what to do. I've already reinstalled the system a dozen times wink But at the moment there is a user "choice"
Currently running XRDP session as root.

[root@localhost ~]# journalctl -b0 | grep xrdp-sesexec
Feb 12 18:04:45 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] starting xrdp-sesexec with pid 1885
Feb 12 18:04:46 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] TerminalServerUsers group tsusers doesn't exist. Access granted for choice
Feb 12 18:04:46 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] Access permitted for user: choice
Feb 12 18:04:46 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: pam_unix(xrdp-sesman:session): session opened for user choice by (uid=0)
Feb 12 18:04:46 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1903]: [INFO ] Starting X server on display 10: Xvnc :10 -auth .Xauthority -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 32 -rfbauth /home/choice/.vnc/sesman_passwd-choice@localhost.localdomain:10 -bs -nolisten tcp -localhost -dpi 96
Feb 12 18:04:47 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] X server :10 is working
Feb 12 18:04:47 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] Starting window manager for display :10
Feb 12 18:04:47 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] Starting the xrdp channel server for display :10
Feb 12 18:04:47 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1941]: [INFO ] Using the default window manager on display 10: /usr/libexec/xrdp/startwm-bash.sh
Feb 12 18:04:47 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[1885]: [INFO ] Session in progress on display :10. Waiting until the window manager (pid 1941) exits to end the session
Feb 12 20:00:12 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[5609]: [INFO ] starting xrdp-sesexec with pid 5609
Feb 12 20:00:12 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[5609]: [ERROR] Can't get UID for user pu=-
Feb 12 20:00:12 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[5609]: [INFO ] AUTHFAIL: user=pu=- ip=::ffff:89.187.173.173 time=1739408412
Feb 12 20:00:15 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[5609]: [ERROR] Error reading libipm transport
Feb 12 20:00:15 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[5609]: [ERROR] sesexec_main_loop: trans_check_wait_objs failed for ECP transport
Feb 13 13:09:30 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] starting xrdp-sesexec with pid 28201
Feb 13 13:09:30 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] TerminalServerUsers group tsusers doesn't exist. Access granted for root
Feb 13 13:09:30 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] Access permitted for user: root
Feb 13 13:09:31 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: pam_unix(xrdp-sesman:session): session opened for user root by (uid=0)
Feb 13 13:09:31 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28218]: [INFO ] Starting X server on display 11: Xvnc :11 -auth .Xauthority -geometry 1920x1080 -depth 32 -rfbauth /root/.vnc/sesman_passwd-root@localhost.localdomain:11 -bs -nolisten tcp -localhost -dpi 96
Feb 13 13:09:32 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] X server :11 is working
Feb 13 13:09:32 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] Starting window manager for display :11
Feb 13 13:09:32 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] Starting the xrdp channel server for display :11
Feb 13 13:09:32 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28222]: [INFO ] Using the default window manager on display 11: /usr/libexec/xrdp/startwm-bash.sh
Feb 13 13:09:32 localhost.localdomain xrdp-sesexec[28201]: [INFO ] Session in progress on display :11. Waiting until the window manager (pid 28222) exits to end the session

Last edited by liamkokur (2025-02-13 18:18:19)

ToZ · 2025-02-13 22:10:51

[INFO ] Using the default window manager on display 11: /usr/libexec/xrdp/startwm-bash.sh

Whats the content of this file?

liamkokur · 2025-02-20 22:41:51

#!/bin/bash -l
. /usr/libexec/xrdp/startwm.sh

startwm.sh:

#!/bin/bash
#
# This script is an example. You might need to edit this script
# depending on your distro if it doesn't work for you.
#
# Uncomment the following line for debug:
# exec xterm


# Execution sequence for interactive login shell - pseudocode
#
# IF /etc/profile is readable THEN
#     execute /etc/profile
# END IF
# IF ~/.bash_profile is readable THEN
#     execute ~/.bash_profile
# ELSE
#     IF ~/.bash_login is readable THEN
#         execute ~/.bash_login
#     ELSE
#         IF ~/.profile is readable THEN
#             execute ~/.profile
#         END IF
#     END IF
# END IF
pre_start()
{
  if [ -r /etc/profile ]; then
    . /etc/profile
  fi
  if [ -r ~/.bash_profile ]; then
    . ~/.bash_profile
  else
    if [ -r ~/.bash_login ]; then
      . ~/.bash_login
    else
      if [ -r ~/.profile ]; then
        . ~/.profile
      fi
    fi
  fi
  return 0
}

# When logging out from the interactive shell, the execution sequence is:
#
# IF ~/.bash_logout exists THEN
#     execute ~/.bash_logout
# END IF
post_start()
{
  if [ -r ~/.bash_logout ]; then
    . ~/.bash_logout
  fi
  return 0
}

get_xdg_session_startupcmd()
{
  # If DESKTOP_SESSION is set and valid then the STARTUP command will be taken from there
  # GDM exports environment variables XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP and XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP.
  # This follows it.
  if [ -n "$1" ] && [ -d /usr/share/xsessions ] \
    && [ -f "/usr/share/xsessions/$1.desktop" ]; then
    STARTUP=$(grep ^Exec= "/usr/share/xsessions/$1.desktop")
    STARTUP=${STARTUP#Exec=*}
    XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=$(grep ^DesktopNames= "/usr/share/xsessions/$1.desktop")
    XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=${XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP#DesktopNames=*}
    XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP=${XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP//;/:}
    export XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP
    export XDG_SESSION_DESKTOP="$DESKTOP_SESSION"
  fi
}

#start the window manager
wm_start()
{
  if [ -r /etc/default/locale ]; then
    . /etc/default/locale
    export LANG LANGUAGE
  fi

  # debian
  if [ -r /etc/X11/Xsession ]; then
    pre_start

    # if you want to start preferred desktop environment,
    # add following line,
    #  [ -n "$XRDP_SESSION" ] && export DESKTOP_SESSION=<your preferred desktop>
    # in either of following file.
    # 1. ~/.profile
    # 2. create a file (any_filename.sh is OK) in /etc/profile.d
    # <your preferred desktop> shall be one of "ls -1 /usr/share/xsessions/|cut -d. -f1"
    # e.g.  [ -n "$XRDP_SESSION" ] && export DESKTOP_SESSION=ubuntu

    # STARTUP is the default startup command.
    # if $1 is empty and STARTUP was not set
    # /etc/X11/Xsession.d/50x11-common_determine-startup will fallback to
    # x-session-manager
    if [ -z "$STARTUP" ] && [ -n "$DESKTOP_SESSION" ]; then
      get_xdg_session_startupcmd "$DESKTOP_SESSION"
    fi

    . /etc/X11/Xsession
    post_start
    exit 0
  fi

  # alpine
  # Don't use /etc/X11/xinit/Xsession - it doesn't work
  if [ -f /etc/alpine-release ]; then
    if [ -f /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc ]; then
        pre_start
        /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
        post_start
    else
        echo "** xinit package isn't installed" >&2
        exit 1
    fi
  fi

  # el
  if [ -r /etc/X11/xinit/Xsession ]; then
    pre_start
    . /etc/X11/xinit/Xsession
    post_start
    exit 0
  fi

  # suse
  if [ -r /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession ]; then
    # since the following script run a user login shell,
    # do not execute the pseudo login shell scripts
    . /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession
    exit 0
  elif [ -r /usr/etc/X11/xdm/Xsession ]; then
    . /usr/etc/X11/xdm/Xsession
    exit 0
  fi

  pre_start
  xterm
  post_start
}

#. /etc/environment
#export PATH=$PATH
#export LANG=$LANG

# change PATH to be what your environment needs usually what is in
# /etc/environment
#PATH="/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/games"
#export PATH=$PATH

# for PATH and LANG from /etc/environment
# pam will auto process the environment file if /etc/pam.d/xrdp-sesman
# includes
# auth       required     pam_env.so readenv=1

wm_start

exit 1

ToZ · 2025-02-21 00:52:38

Change the contents of that file to read:

#!/bin/bash
eval $(dbus-launch --sh-syntax)
startxfce4
exit 0

...and try again.

liamkokur · 2025-02-21 10:39:52

You are a magician! It worked! Thank you very much!
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#1 2025-02-11 22:23:41

[SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#2 2025-02-11 23:49:33

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#3 2025-02-12 17:51:38

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#4 2025-02-12 18:07:37

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#5 2025-02-12 18:41:23

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#6 2025-02-12 19:23:34

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#7 2025-02-12 19:40:32

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#8 2025-02-12 19:49:22

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#9 2025-02-12 20:11:03

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#10 2025-02-12 20:25:50

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#11 2025-02-12 21:51:07

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#12 2025-02-12 22:22:20

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#13 2025-02-12 22:49:42

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#14 2025-02-12 23:00:14

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#15 2025-02-12 23:58:27

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#16 2025-02-13 18:14:21

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#17 2025-02-13 22:10:51

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#18 2025-02-20 22:41:51

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#19 2025-02-21 00:52:38

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

#20 2025-02-21 10:39:52

Re: [SOLVED] How to remove the Activities panel?

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