Remote Desktop: Difference between revisions

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= Software =

Remote desktop software is split into two types: servers and clients.

To access a computer remotely, it must have a server running, which usually is exposed to a port or set thereof. Access to that server can be gained using a client; many protocols, like RDP, are open to all clients willing to support them. Others require specific clients, so consult the documentation for whichever service you choose to use.

== Servers ==

* VNC

* XRDP

== Clients ==

* Apache Guacamole

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* tightvnc and its forks tigervnc and turbovnc

* x2goclient

* GNOME Connections

=~~= Servers =~~=

= Configuration =

* XRDP

== VNC ==

==~~= Configuration =~~==

Most servers provide a <code>vncserver</code> command.

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to /etc/nixos/configuration.nix.

=== ~~RDP~~ ===

=== Guacamole ===

NixOS has first class support for XRDP ~~server~~.

Guacamole-server and guacamole-client are in nixpkgs. Some details are in the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/17879 package request].

== RDP ==

NixOS has first-class support for XRDP. Client-wise, RDP can be accessed in many ways, but `remmina` and `freerdp` support it natively.

All of the options for the <code>xrdp</code> service can be viewed on the [https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=23.11&from=0&size=50&sort=relevance&type=packages&query=xrdp NixOS Options wiki], though an example setup inside of <code>configuration.nix</code> is provided below:

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(Source: [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/please-post-working-xrdp-setting-in-configuration-nix/7404/10 Discourse Link], [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/86a80807d8d7051c63ab2b9d7f630abe066468b1/nixos/modules/services/networking/xrdp.nix nixpkgs code])

~~You need to log out the~~ user ~~first on the remote machine~~, ~~otherwise you'll get a black screen.~~ (~~Source: [https:~~//www.reddit.com/r/Proxmox/comments/hxp28j/black_screen_in_microsoft_remote_desktop_noob/fzm7zbo/ Reddit]). It may be particularly true on a multi-user system. You may be able to work around this by enabling and configuring [[Polkit]]. The configuration for enabling these permissions is the example code ~~on that page~~.

A different window manager can be used for XRDP than a machine user, provided it has been enabled (through NixOS <code>services</code> or <code>nixpkgs</code>.

~~<code>freerdp<~~/~~code> or <code>remmina<~~/~~code> can~~ be ~~used~~ on ~~the client side~~.

Make sure you log out the visual user first on the remote machine, otherwise you'll get a black screen. (Source: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Proxmox/comments/hxp28j/black_screen_in_microsoft_remote_desktop_noob/fzm7zbo/ Reddit]). You may be able to work around this by enabling and configuring [[Polkit]], as demonstrated on that page.

~~<h3>~~GNOME~~</h3>~~

=== GNOME ===

The ~~Xrdp~~ <code>defaultWindowManager</code> setting to access a remote GNOME shell should be set to <code>gnome-remote-desktop</code>.

The XRDP <code>defaultWindowManager</code> setting to access a remote GNOME shell should be set to <code>gnome-remote-desktop</code>.

<code>services.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop</code> must be enabled for this to work. Also ensure that you have a firewall port open for ~~Xrdp~~ to communicate on (for the GNOME connections app, this is <code>3389</code>).

<code>services.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop</code> must be enabled for this to work. Also ensure that you have a firewall port open for XRDP to communicate on (for the GNOME connections app, this is <code>3389</code>).

=== ~~Guacamole~~ ===

=== Meshcentral ===

~~Guacamole-server and guacamole-client are in nixpkgs. Some details are in the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/17879 package request].~~

~~=== Meshcentral ===~~

Meshcentral is a self-hosted open source administration tool similar to teamviewer.

It can be added with:

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+= Software =
+Remote desktop software is split into two types: servers and clients.
+To access a computer remotely, it must have a server running, which usually is exposed to a port or set thereof. Access to that server can be gained using a client; many protocols, like RDP, are open to all clients willing to support them. Others require specific clients, so consult the documentation for whichever service you choose to use.
+== Servers ==
+* VNC
+* XRDP
 == Clients ==
 * Apache Guacamole
@@ Line 6: / Line 16: @@
 * tightvnc and its forks tigervnc and turbovnc
 * x2goclient
+* GNOME Connections
-== Servers ==
+= Configuration =
-* XRDP
+== VNC ==
-=== Configuration ===
 Most servers provide a <code>vncserver</code> command.
@@ Line 47: / Line 56: @@
 to /etc/nixos/configuration.nix.
-=== RDP ===
+=== Guacamole ===
-NixOS has first class support for XRDP server.
+Guacamole-server and guacamole-client are in nixpkgs. Some details are in the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/17879 package request].
+== RDP ==
+NixOS has first-class support for XRDP. Client-wise, RDP can be accessed in many ways, but `remmina` and `freerdp` support it natively.
+All of the options for the <code>xrdp</code> service can be viewed on the [https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=23.11&from=0&size=50&sort=relevance&type=packages&query=xrdp NixOS Options wiki], though an example setup inside of <code>configuration.nix</code> is provided below:
 <source lang="nix">
@@ Line 64: / Line 79: @@
 (Source: [https://discourse.nixos.org/t/please-post-working-xrdp-setting-in-configuration-nix/7404/10 Discourse Link], [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/86a80807d8d7051c63ab2b9d7f630abe066468b1/nixos/modules/services/networking/xrdp.nix nixpkgs code])
-You need to log out the user first on the remote machine, otherwise you'll get a black screen. (Source: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Proxmox/comments/hxp28j/black_screen_in_microsoft_remote_desktop_noob/fzm7zbo/ Reddit]). It may be particularly true on a multi-user system. You may be able to work around this by enabling and configuring [[Polkit]]. The configuration for enabling these permissions is the example code on that page.
+A different window manager can be used for XRDP than a machine user, provided it has been enabled (through NixOS <code>services</code> or <code>nixpkgs</code>.
-<code>freerdp</code> or <code>remmina</code> can be used on the client side.
+Make sure you log out the visual user first on the remote machine, otherwise you'll get a black screen. (Source: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Proxmox/comments/hxp28j/black_screen_in_microsoft_remote_desktop_noob/fzm7zbo/ Reddit]). You may be able to work around this by enabling and configuring [[Polkit]], as demonstrated on that page.
-<h3>GNOME</h3>
+=== GNOME ===
-The Xrdp <code>defaultWindowManager</code> setting to access a remote GNOME shell should be set to <code>gnome-remote-desktop</code>.
+The XRDP <code>defaultWindowManager</code> setting to access a remote GNOME shell should be set to <code>gnome-remote-desktop</code>.
-<code>services.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop</code> must be enabled for this to work. Also ensure that you have a firewall port open for Xrdp to communicate on (for the GNOME connections app, this is <code>3389</code>).
+<code>services.gnome.gnome-remote-desktop</code> must be enabled for this to work. Also ensure that you have a firewall port open for XRDP to communicate on (for the GNOME connections app, this is <code>3389</code>).
-=== Guacamole ===
+=== Meshcentral ===
-Guacamole-server and guacamole-client are in nixpkgs. Some details are in the [https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/17879 package request].
-=== Meshcentral ===
 Meshcentral is a self-hosted open source administration tool similar to teamviewer.
 It can be added with: