Public bug reported:
- Versions: gdm3 50.1-0ubuntu0.1, dbus-daemon 1.16.2-2ubuntu4, systemd
259.5-0ubuntu3.4, Ubuntu 26.04.1
- Symptom: systemctl enable gnome-headless-session@USER + reboot → the restart
loop logs gdm-new-session[…]: Failed: The connection is closed; no headless
session, and RDP to the headless grd gets nothing
- Minimal repro, no GDM needed:
- sudo systemd-run --wait --pipe -p DynamicUser=yes busctl --system status
→ Failed to get credentials: Transport endpoint is not connected, while the
same command as root works
- sudo -u messagebus env SYSTEMD_NSS_DYNAMIC_BYPASS=1 getent passwd
<dynamic uid> → exit 2, but without the variable it resolves
- /proc/<dbus-daemon pid>/environ contains SYSTEMD_NSS_DYNAMIC_BYPASS=1
- Workaround: a drop-in
/etc/systemd/system/[email protected]/static-user.conf with
DynamicUser=no, User=gdm. With it, the headless session starts and RDP works.
- Suggested fix: ship the unit with a static user in the gdm group (Ubuntu
delta), or use dbus-broker. Should be forwarded upstream to GNOME/gdm.
- Related: LP #2169174 (gnome-remote-desktop 50.2 Remote Login black screen).
Not the same bug, but it comes up when people try headless as a workaround.
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.04
Package: gdm3 50.1-0ubuntu0.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.0.0-38.38-generic 7.0.14
Uname: Linux 7.0.0-38-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.34.1-0ubuntu0.1
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Oct 22 09:48:55 2026
InstallationDate: Installed on 2026-08-03 (80 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" - Release amd64 (20260423.1)
ProcEnviron:
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
PATH=(custom, no user)
SHELL=/bin/bash
TERM=xterm-256color
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
SourcePackage: gdm3
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
mtime.conffile..etc.gdm3.custom.conf: 2026-10-22T09:28:01.058931
** Affects: gdm3 (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug resolute wayland-session
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2171951
Title:
[email protected] always fails ("The connection is
closed"): DynamicUser cannot use the system bus under dbus-daemon
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