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UPDATE: To see an even larger list of remote desktop applications available, please read Remote Desktop for Linux Reloaded. I ended up writing second article on the subject because of so many comments and feedback on this one.
There are a wide range of remote desktop applications that are available that can be used to connect to Windows environment but there aren’t too many that can be used to remote desktop from Linux to Linux or Windows to Linux. With this I mean, getting entire desktop of remote Linux environment on your local workstation.
Most people who are used to a Unix-style environment know that a machine can be reached over the network at the shell level using utilities like telnet or ssh. And some people realize that X Windows output can be redirected back to the client workstation. But many people don’t realize that it is easy to use an entire desktop over the network. There are a couple of open source applications that can easily do this for you.
Here is a short list of applications that can be used.
1) VNC (Virtual Network Computing) is a remote display system which allows the user to view the desktop of a remote machine anywhere on the internet. It can also be directed through SSH for security.
Basically you install VNC server on the server and install client on your local PC. Setup is extremely easy and server is very stable. On client side, you can set the resolution and connect to IP of VNC server. It can be a bit slow compared to Windows remote desktop and also has the tendency to take more time refreshing over low-bandwidth links. All in all VNC is an amazing piece of free software that gets the job done.
There is RealVNC , TightVNC and UltraVNC. Each has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Most popular one is RealVNC but if you’re upto it, experiment with all three and choose the one that works for you best. By default, communication between client and server is in clear text on port 5900. However, you can easily route all traffic via SSH tunnel. Here is a quick way of setting it up if you have access to command line shell:
ssh -ND 5900 <user>@remote.server.com
When you get prompted, enter your password. Pop open VNC client and connect to ‘localhost’. This’ll route your connection to VNC server on remote machine.
You can download VNC from:
2) Then there is FreeNX. FreeNX is a system that allows you to access your desktop from another machine over the internet. You can use this to login graphically to your desktop from a remote location. One example of its use would be to have a FreeNX server set up on your home computer, and graphically logging in to the home computer from your work computer, using a FreeNX client. It provides near local speed application responsiveness over high latency, low bandwidth links.
FreeNX can be configured to run via SSH without any tunneling. It binds to your existing SSH install. Instead of guiding you through the installation of FreeNX in this article, you can visit the following URLs that’ll guide you through the installation on Ubuntu:
- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FreeNX
- http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=97277&highlight=freenx
- http://freenx.berlios.de/ (FreeNX homepage)
3) The third free application is 2X Terminal Server for Linux. 2X TerminalServer for Linux is an Open Source project, licensed under the GPL and is free of charge. As far as performance goes, NoMachine’s technology is on par with Windows’ own Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) suite, better than VNC. Both X2 and FreeNX is based on NoMachine technology.
Here are some quick links if you’re interested in using this software:
- Download at http://www.2x.com/terminalserver/download.htm
- Forum is at http://www.2x.com/forums
4) The last but not least at all is XDMCP. The X Display Manager Control Protocol uses UDP port 177. Compared to the list above, it’s not as easy to setup for remote desktop but it’s the original way of doing this on Linux. You can get setup instructions and other tips in the following URL:
In conclusion, there are many commercial products that are available as well. But this article is only based on open source products that can be freely used with no strings attached.
Comments
50 Comments so far
[…] there aren’t too many that can be used to remote desktop from Linux to Linux or Windows to Linux. With this I mean, getting entire desktop of remote Linux environment on your local workstation. […]
What’s wrong with Terminal Server Client?
VNC in linux is very slow and can be a major pain in the but to setup and run. Pretty much every linux distro out there has either a FreeNX packaage or has ditro’ed www.nomachine.com ’s now free NX server.
It runs fast, can be set to use only ssh for both the port it needs and to do full encryption.
VNC on linux is a square peg for a round hole.
If you don’t need a full desktop, you can use simple X11 tunnelling through SSH. This doesn’t start a full desktop environment, but allows you to run graphical applications remotely (i.e., they run on the remote machine, but are displayed on the local X server).
ssh -Y user@remote-host.org
- Simon
If you guys know of any other open-source apps that can be used for remote desktop. Please post it here. I would like to compile a complete list for our users.
Thanks!
http://www.rdesktop.org/
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
RDP and rdesktop are used to connect to windows machines, there is no (decent) rdp server for linux. Read the article before you start asking about “what about Terminal Services Client” or posting URLs for rdesktop
Which one of them can I use from a windows machine ‘where I don’t have full access on?
Do I need an administrator account to do this?
I agree, my experience with ssh/x11vnc has been pretty slow. It works well connecting through my home network, almost well enough to watch video on. On my handheld however, it is slower. I havent found a good way do downgrade quality for speed yet.
I hear there is one where you can even set up an X display and specify resolution, that would rock for mobile devices, but knowing how “user-friendly” it is to set my normal resolution in xorg… i am skeptical.
how about CygwinX for windows to linux. I use it all the time..works like a dream.
[…] Desktop for Linux Filed under: Uncategorized — recar @ 2:44 pm Remote Desktop for Linux This article lists free remote desktop applications that are available on Linux that can be used to […]
Check out XRDP (http://sourceforge.net/projects/xrdp/) for an RDP server the runs on Linux, thus allowing you to use Windows Remote Desktop Client or rdesktop to connect.
[…] read more | digg story […]
x2vnc is a great little utility that allows you to tie a linux and windows (or anything that can run the vncserver) together with a single keyboard/mouse, avoiding the need for a switcher box. Mousing across screens transparently switches between machines, and cut and paste works.
http://fredrik.hubbe.net/x2vnc.html
why did you not list rdesktop? If you want to connect Linux to a Windows box, as long as it’s running terminal services, rdesktop is the best/fastest/most responsive way to handle it.
Good article. Thanks..
fak3r…
rdesktop is to connect from Linux to Windows. This article is about from Windows to Linux and Linux to Linux.
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Re: VNC is painful and slow, I beg to differ. At least on the painful part
Step 0: Install this package on the machine you want to connect to: http://www.karlrunge.com/x11vnc/
(available through your distro’s package manager, most likely)
Step 1: ssh -L 5900:localhost:5900 you@targetmachine “x11vnc -allow 127.0.0.1 -display :0″
(assuming your X11 desktop is on :0)
Step 2: use a VNC connect to localhost:0 on the viewer machine where you’re SSHing from.
You can speed it up by enabling tight/copyrect/zrle on the client side, or by adding -notruecolor to the x11vnc command, i.e.
ssh -L 5900:localhost:5900 you@targetmachine “x11vnc -allow 127.0.0.1 -display :0 -notruecolor”
ALWAYS use -allow 127.0.0.1 for security reasons to restrict it to local (tunneled) connections, ESPECIALLY if your target machine is directly connected to the Internet.
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux : lxpages.com blog (tags: tutorial vnc Ubuntu remote ssh) […]
Nobody mentioned Xming. It’s a great and lightweight implementation of X11 for Windows that allows you to connect to a Linux box. You can read about it at http://freedesktop.org/wiki/Xming. I recently switched from using TightVNC to Xming only because after I installed Beryl on my Ubuntu Edgy, VNC does not work. It just has too much processing overhead. Xming along with Portable PuTTY have become my staple apps to connect from my XP desktop to my Ubunty Edgy desktop. Very easy to install, much lighter than CygWin/X.
[…] very good article about free / open source solutions to manage a remote desktop in a graphical way. Overall, […]
[…] read more | digg story […]
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux : lxpages.com blog interesting article,w ith some good info in comments. (tags: linux remote vnc ubuntu tutorial ssh desktop howto) […]
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I work with different platforms(Linux,BSD,windows). It’s too boring for me to install and configure RemoteDesktop on each. So I’ve chosen Techinline Remote Desktop. It needs no installation and can run on any OS. See Techinline Remote Desktop( www.techinline.com)
LINUXWORLD 2007 TO SHOWCASE THE LATEST OPEN SOURCE AND LINUX TECHNOLOGIES
The UK’s only Linux event to take place at Olympia 2, 23-24th October 2007
London, 28th June 2007: LinuxWorld 2007 is tipped to set the latest trends in Open Source and Linux technologies. The show, which is expected to attract IT decision makers, business professionals and Linux enthusiasts, will showcase the latest technology, debate the use of Open Source in the desktop environment, touch on the use of Linux in the datacentre and discuss the development of a common Linux-based platform for mobile phones. LinuxWorld Conference & Expo will take place at Olympia 2, 23rd -24th October 2007.
The show is the only Linux and Open Source event in the UK and will appeal to a cross section of industries including automotive, health, banking, retail, education and local government. Participation has already been confirmed by some of the largest players in the Open Source world including ThoughtWorks, Linux International and Mozilla.
“Many industry watchers thought that the recent launch of Microsoft Vista would have challenged the ever-increasing update of Linux and Open Source within the enterprise,� commented Laura Tythcott, event director, Early Action Group, who is organising the event. “But that is not the case, many corporations who would have shied away from Linux and Open Source, now see it as a viable alternative to Vista as it requires less training and is just as easy to use.�
“LinuxWorld 2007 is set to be the biggest and best UK show ever. It will showcase the latest Open Source technology and have experts on hand to help IT Managers and Directors make the best choices when purchasing and deploying Open Source software,� added Tythcott.
For more information please visit http://www.linuxworldexpo.co.uk/
NOTES TO EDITORS
About IDG World Expo
IDG World Expo produces technology-focused tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. As the leading technology event management company, IDG World Expo leverages its experience and knowledge of technology-focused events and conferences, enabling technology companies to capture the attention and loyalty of influential buyers. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world’s leading technology media, research and event company.
About Linux World
LinuxWorld is held in 12 countries and there are 15 shows (2 per year in the US, Japan, and in China; 1 each in Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Germany, UK, Italy and Netherlands.
About Early Action Group
Media contact:
Sarah-Anne Bray
Wildfire PR
0208 339 4420
linuxworld@wildfirepr.co.uk
thanks
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
is http://www.uvnc.com/ free?
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
[…] Remote Desktop for Linux […]
Are any of the clients mentioned above as good as the rdesktop client? I don’t mind using VNC, but vncviewer is just horrible. Any suggestions before I try all of them?
[…] read more | digg story […]
[…] read more | digg story […]
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I like your blog, this post is really good, but please vary your topics, it will broad your readership.
As srinivas said, Xming is an excellent X11 tool for linux from windows. I been using it for years without any issues.
On the commercial side, WinAxe (http://www.winaxe.com/xwindows-for-windows.html) is a very stable, easy to configure and muli protocol x window option.
thanks for the nice articel
its teach me a lot
I use NoMachine NX suite of remote desktop for Linux & Windows, and it’s very impresive and easy-to-use !
And it’s forever FREE….
I log via Internet on my Linux remote servers by ADSL : it’s realy comfortable and efficient.
http://www.nomachine.com/download.php
A pure dream