Deploy and Host Ubuntu Pro Stack on Railway

Deploy a private Ubuntu 24.04 XFCE desktop in your browser. This Ubuntu template includes a persistent home volume, generated login, HTTPS through Railway, native noVNC access, a file download folder, and daily plus weekly volume backup schedules. No GPU, external database or API key is required.

About Hosting Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution suitable for command-line tools and desktop applications. This template runs an Ubuntu container with the XFCE desktop and TigerVNC/noVNC, so you can open a Linux workstation from an ordinary web browser. This is an Ubuntu desktop container, not a full virtual machine or a systemd host.

First connection

Deploy the template and wait for the real desktop healthcheck to pass.
Open the generated HTTPS domain.
Sign in with CUSTOM_USER (default admin) and the generated PASSWORD in Railway Variables.
Your Ubuntu desktop connects automatically. The home directory is /config.

The web password is required and generated automatically; no manual signup or third-party credentials are needed. Set a strong replacement of at least 16 characters in Railway Variables if desired. Do not expose the internal VNC or WebSocket ports.

Why Deploy Ubuntu on Railway?

This community Pro Stack adds practical hosting features to an Ubuntu desktop:

One service and one persistent volume, with no database to maintain.
A unique generated password; authenticated desktop, client assets, WebSockets and file downloads.
A complete persistent home at /config for files, dotfiles and XFCE preferences.
/config/Downloads is also available through the authenticated /files/ page.
Daily and weekly Railway volume backups configured in the template.
CPU rendering and WebSocket transport through the same HTTPS domain.
Readiness checks the X display and XFCE session as well as required processes and internal ports.
Process supervision and orderly shutdown compatible with Railway's own init process.
An immutable upstream image digest; Ubuntu packages installed during the build receive repository updates.

The service and template both use the Ubuntu icon. Documentation and source are available at Railway Desktop Pro.

Common Use Cases

A private remote Ubuntu desktop for lightweight development tools.
A browser-accessible Linux terminal and graphical file manager.
Learning or testing Ubuntu software in a disposable container with persistent files.
Keeping a small personal Linux workspace available across devices.

Dependencies for Ubuntu

One Railway Dockerfile service, rooted at /ubuntu in the source repository.
One persistent volume mounted at /config.
The generated PASSWORD, CUSTOM_USER and PORT=3000 variables.
A Railway plan with enough memory; allow about 1–2 GB for normal desktop use, more for heavy applications.

Deployment Dependencies

What survives a restart or redeploy?

Files and settings under /config persist. Programs installed into the system filesystem with apt, running processes and anything outside that volume are ephemeral. Add permanent system packages in the Dockerfile. Keep one replica per volume.

Can I use sudo?

Yes. Desktop applications run as headless (UID 1001). The generated web password can also be used for sudo in the private desktop. System changes still disappear when the container is replaced unless included in the Dockerfile.

Is this an RDP server or a full Ubuntu VM?

No. It is an XFCE desktop container streamed with noVNC over HTTPS/WebSockets. It does not require or expose RDP, public VNC, privileged Docker mode or a GPU. Independent user desktops, systemd, audio/video conferencing and GPU workloads are outside this template's scope.

How do I change the display size?

Use noVNC's remote resizing control, or set VNC_RESOLUTION in Railway Variables. The startup resolution defaults to 1440x900 and accepts 800x600 through 2560x1440.

Are costs and availability guaranteed?

Railway bills compute, storage, networking and backups under its normal terms. A successful test is not a guarantee that future deployments or third-party package repositories will never fail. Keep backups and review updates before changing a working installation.

Community-maintained packaging, not affiliated with Canonical, Accetto or Railway.