Remote Desktop Between Windows and Linux

Linux-compatible remote desktop software lets you use or access a Linux OS device remotely for fast troubleshooting. It’s a form of remote access software capable of serving as a compatible remote desktop for Mac, Linux, Windows, and more.

In general, remote computer access software—whether it’s Windows remote desktop-, Linux-, or Mac-compatible—refers to the software applications, web browser tools, and operating system functions allowing IT specialists to connect to remote devices and operate them as if the technician was physically present.

The remote access connection can serve a wide range of purposes. It can be used simply to remotely log in to and access a customer or employee’s computer, to show a user how to run a program, or to help address and resolve a technical difficulty a user might be facing. The best remote computer access software solutions offer additional features like the ability to have voice or video conferences during the remote session or to chat over instant messenger to help ensure the issue is addressed as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Remote Linux access software is a specific form of remote access software allowing IT support specialists to connect to devices running Linux from any device, including ones not running Linux themselves.

During a remote access session, the remote Linux access software tracks input from the local client device. It then relays those inputs back to the remote access server or workstation where the IT specialist who established the connection can see those inputs as if they were physically on the remotely connected device, even though they’re actually operating their own device. To complete the remote access connection, the software can capture the IT technician’s keyboard and mouse inputs and display them in the local computing environment.

To set up a Linux remote desktop connection from any device or operating system (including Windows), there are a few steps to follow. Before you can access a Linux desktop, you first need to install the Linux agent. You can do this from the SolarWinds^® Dameware^® Remote Everywhere (DRE) Tech Console or Admin Area to allow for unattended access to the device for customers using a Linux operating system.

To install the Dameware agent and begin a remote session, follow these steps:

1. Go to the “Devices” page on the Tech Console or Admin Area to add a new device.
2. Enter the customer and computer details, go to the “Devices Type” field, and select Linux.deb or Linux.rpm.
3. Once the agent is fully installed, you can begin your first unattended remote session with the newly added Linux device.
4. Once you’ve connected to the Linux device, you need to unpack the TAR.GZ package and run the install.sh script.
5. Then, generate a PIN code from the Admin Area homepage or from the Tech Console and insert the code in the terminal.
6. Finally, enter the root password and begin your remote-control session.

There’s no need to install the remote access software on both devices—with a tool like DRE, you can use an internet proxy server to connect over the internet. This means there should be an internet connection on both the client and host sides, though the devices don’t necessarily have to be on the same network.

If you follow these steps and meet the criteria, you should be able to remotely access a Linux desktop from a Windows device as needed.

Good Linux remote software lets you remotely access a Linux desktop or other device from a device running any operating system, including Windows and Mac. Some key features of a good Linux remote software include the following:

• Support for multiple monitors
• A live instant messaging feature
• A lightweight ticketing system
• A high-quality reporting engine
• The ability to remotely access powered-off or sleeping machines
• Support for multi-level permissions and multi-factor authorization
• The ability to work with all major operating systems, including Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, iOS, and Android

Quality remote access software offers an unattended access feature to help you solve issues on the remote device without having to disturb or interrupt the user. Good Linux remote software uses Wake-on-Lan, KVM, and Intel vPro with AMT to help you access both sleeping and powered-off computers.

Good remote access tools also allow you to save the relevant details from each remote session, so you can easily share important troubleshooting information from the session with relevant parties, including the full IT team and clients. Ideally, these tools also let you make recordings and take screenshots during the session and let you store them in the cloud afterward.

Good Linux remote software acknowledges the importance of communication during a remote session, which is why the best tools support live instant messaging both in-session and pre-session as needed. It also allows for video calling via VoIP without interrupting the session. Additionally, it should allow you to automatically save this correspondence in a searchable format so you can access a record of previous communications whenever you need it.

If managed correctly, creating a remote connection to Linux or another system can be highly secure. However, without proper measures, a remote session can be vulnerable to attacks from third parties. Hackers can view the session, steal data, hold passwords for ransom, and more, which can have a devastating impact on a business. This can happen if the remote access software isn’t updated or lacks appropriate security features.

When picking your remote access software, it’s important to remember not all Linux remote control options include adequate security measures and some remote desktop software don’t work on local or remote devices running Linux OS. It’s important to choose software compatible with various operating systems while incorporating features like multi-factor authentication for sufficient security. Secure remote Linux access should include advanced encryption measures, including AES-256 encryption and SSL/TLS key exchange. It can also be helpful to choose remote access software with logging capabilities for later reference in case of security issues.

SolarWinds Dameware Remote Everywhere is a cloud-based remote access solution built to let you create a Linux remote desktop from your own device, whether it’s running Linux or not. DRE is designed to be easy to use and to help with efficient troubleshooting.

To create a Linux remote desktop, all you need to do is install a Linux agent on both the host and client device. From there, support technicians can access the Linux device at any time—even if it’s sleeping or powered off.

DRE uses highly secure internet proxy servers to help ensure remote sessions are safe from third parties and are AES-256 encrypted. It also supports multi-level permissions and dual-factor authentication to better ensure security.

In addition to high-level security features, DRE gives users rapid remote connections. You can typically launch sessions in under eight seconds, which can save you time when it comes to creating workstations and connections.

Once the session is launched, DRE makes it easier for support technicians to contact the user through video calls using VoIP or with chats both pre-session and in-session. You can leverage these communication avenues without needing to interrupt the session, and DRE also automatically saves correspondences in searchable session logs to help ensure the support life cycle is transparent and the details of each session are available to anyone who needs them.

DRE allows support technicians to better help end users, and it also has tools specifically designed to help improve help desk performance. With the powerful reporting engine in DRE, you can gain detailed insight into support team performance with session details, technician performance data, and end-user survey summaries offering first-person feedback.

Other On-Premises SolarWinds Remote Support Tools:

• Dameware Remote Support
• Web Help Desk^®

Related Features:

• Remote Printing
• Remote Desktop Screen Sharing
• Remote Registry Editor Access
• Connect Remote Desktop With Command Line