You can use Linux RDP to deliver apps and desktops to your employees, troubleshoot and debug remote computer issues, access on-site computers from home, access home computers from other locations, conduct administrative tasks on remote computers, and so on.
Linux RDP allows you to access your server from another server. It comes in handy for when you are out of the office or use a “headless computer,” without direct input or output devices such as the keyboard, monitor, or mouse.
Short On Time? Choose The Best Linux Hosting Brands Supporting RDP
| Provider | User Rating | Best For | Expert & User Reviews | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 5.0 | Performance | Kamatera Review | Visit Kamatera |
 | 4.6 | Security | Hostinger Review | Visit Hostinger |
 | 4.9 | Versatility | Ultahost Review | Visit Ultahost |
 | 4.4 | Scalability | InterServer Review | Visit InterServer |
 | 4.0 | Speed | IONOS Review | Visit IONOS |
However, before getting into details, let’s start with the basics.
Is RDP The Same As VPS?
Many are confused with these two terms. While RDP and VPS work similarly, they are not the same.
VPS is a private server granting you full root admin access, a dedicated IP, and the choice of an operating system. In turn, you can get to choose from a Windows VPS or a Linux VPS.
To help you navigate your options, you can learn about the best Linux VPS brands we recommend and discover why in our other article.
On the other hand, several users share the RDP, usually about ten accounts. It doesn’t give you administrator access to the server, meaning you cannot install any application or change any settings in this regard. Still, the RDP account protects all the data it carries 100%.
You might still be a bit confused. So, let’s see how all of it works in the background.
What Makes RDP So Unique?
RDP software or Remote Desktop Protocol is a communication/proprietary protocol.
It provides you, as the user, with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection. In turn, you can join, access, and control data and resources on the remote host as if you were doing it locally.
It works simply. You must employ RDP client software to use this tool, while the other computer must run RDP server software.
Now, Microsoft has developed RDP to enable the remote management of and access to virtual desktops and applications. Thus, there is an available client for most versions of Microsoft Windows. It works on any device, anytime, over any connection. However, that’s not where it ends, as the software is also available for Linux.
If you have installed Linux with a graphical user interface (GUI) on your device, you can still use the RDP and configure the connection to use it in one of the following ways:
- Connect from A Linux Machine to A Windows Machine
- And Vice Versa – Access A Linux Device from A Windows Machine
- At Last, Link Two Linux Machines
See, many users find using RDP for Ubuntu incredibly convenient, as it allows them to connect to virtual machines running in public clouds. Keep in mind you can use the RDP to connect to both physical and virtual machines.
Introducing the Concept of RDP VPS
If you have an internet connection, you can communicate with the remote desktop as it were local. We already cleared that up. But let’s translate it to hosting terms.
The local computer receives a copy of the remote server in a remote desktop configuration. Then, when the remote desktop app identifies an update, it modifies the data on the local machine at a timed interval.
The local computer uses the RDP and the Linux OS to pass the keyboard and mouse actions to the remote computer. In other words, the RDP VPS processes these instructions.
See, all of these steps are done rapidly. As the end-user, you cannot notice the action. However, it would be best to choose a quality web hosting provider so that you don’t experience any latency while working with a remote computer.
The Best Linux RDP Hosting Providers
We have put together a list of the best Linux hosting providers that support RDP to take a bit of work off your hands. Let’s get right into it!
An Overview Of The Top Web Hosts That Support RDP
Fast forward, I have compared the top market performers in terms of the qualities essential for Linux RDP hosting:
- Uptime: it determines the availability of the hosted cloud services
- Security-related features: protect you from third parties gaining access to your remote server
- Pricing: why not save a couple of bucks if you can?
- Expert reviews and customer testimonials on HostAdvice
| Kamatera | Hostinger | Ultahost | InterServer | IONOS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uptime | 99.95% | 99.9% | 99.99% | 99.95% | 99.99% |
| Security-related Features |
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| Pricing |
Our Top Providers For Linux RDP Hosting Servers:
Kamatera offers the Remote Desktop Server feature, which allows you to centralize software management by installing it on a single virtual machine. In other words, you can make it accessible for multiple clients over a remote desktop without running various installations.
What makes Kamatera unique is its simple management console and API. Kamatera’s 13 data centers across four continents account for ultimate availability and performance. Furthermore, the provider allows for unlimited scaling up and down, along with premium human support 24/7.
Still, Kamatera’s main advantage is customization. As a user, you can tailor the cloud VPS service to your needs. At this point, you can choose from different options of processors, operating systems and add-ons, RAM, SSD Storage, Public IPs, Data Center, and even Internet traffic.
Hostinger provides the LXDE Desktop as one of the OS templates available within its VPS plans. While you can get it the first time you set the VPS plan up, you can also add it later. Hostinger recommends using the RealVNC viewer software to connect to Remote Desktop on Linux, but more on this later.
Now, Hostinger is easy to set up, as everything is one click away. Furthermore, its services feature lightning-fast speeds, automatic 1-click WordPress installations, and a wide variety of tools to satisfy your advanced user and website developer needs
At last, you can benefit from huge flexibility and scaling. You can choose a plan that suits your initial needs, upgrade or downgrade in the future. At last, there is Hostinger’s 24/7/365 available team to assist you in all quests, such as setting up the Linux RDP feature.
Ultahost offers Linux-based VPS hosting plans, tailored for various needs. Thet offer managed Linux VPS hosting at affordable prices and many excellent free and paid features. Ultahost has a 100% uptime guarantee, which will ensure that you will experience almost no downtime or response time difficulties.
Setting up a Linux environment with Ultahost is straightforward, designed for ease of use. They provide features that make Linux management simpler, even for those less familiar with this operating system.
Setting up a Linux environment with Ultahost is straightforward, designed for ease of use. They provide features that make Linux management simpler, even for those less familiar with this operating system.
InterServer is yet another flexible VPS hosting platform to deploy your online project. As the customer, you can choose from different processor cores, memory, and storage levels, along with many Linux (open source) templates.
InterServer doesn’t limit you regarding your data and service. In other words, you can access or update your files, folders, databases, and other resources anywhere from around the world whenever you want. Better yet, you will get full root access to install the control panel or operating system without its permission.
Going on, you can benefit from remarkable speeds, dedicated resources, self-healing hardware, top-notch security, lots of development and database options, and affordable prices.
IONOS offers a range of Linux VPS hosting solutions, catering to various levels of demand and expertise. These solutions are designed with specific Linux distributions in mind, such as Ubuntu, CentOS, or Debian. They provide flexibility in selecting the right environment for your technical requirements, whether it’s for a small personal project or a larger, resource-intensive application.
IONOS simplifies the setup process for its Linux VPS hosting. They offer tools like a control panel for easy management of your server, including automated backups and updates. Their platform also includes features for advanced users, such as root access and SSH keys, which allow for deeper server customization and control.
IONOS emphasizes performance in its Linux VPS offerings, utilizing SSD storage for faster data access and processing. They also ensure reliability with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. For support, IONOS provides 24/7 assistance.
How To Install Linux RDP? Here Is The Best Tool!
In general, there are three ways to manage Ubuntu or other Linux distributions remotely. You can use SSH (Secure Shell), RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol), or VNC (Virtual Network Computing).
Here, you can find out how to establish a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connection using Remmina. Remmina is an accessible, minimal, easy-to-use user interface (UI). It supports several network protocols – RDP, VNC, NX, XDMCP, and SSH. Thus, it’s suitable for most users.
Furthermore, Remmina is an open-source, feature-rich, and powerful remote desktop client. It is written in GTK+3 so that it works with Linux and other Unix-like systems. The best part is, it’s entirely free.
Now, let’s see how you can remotely access your machine or potentially provide some technical support to someone sharing theirs.
The Remmina RDP client is the default RDP client for Ubuntu Linux. So, it’s installed on all MCECS machines running Ubuntu and is included as part of the standard Ubuntu distro. You might need to install the Ubuntu remote desktop client manually on your Ubuntu Linux. Either way, the end goal is to have Ubuntu 18.04.2 installed on the VMware virtual machine.
To be more specific, you need the following tools on hand:
- A device running Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or above
- A VNC server
- Remmina Remote Desktop Client
You can install Remmina in one of two ways – from the left bottom corner of the Ubuntu Desktop (the GUI) or with several commands in the Ubuntu console.
Upon installation, you should launch Remmina. At this point, you can go for a quick or a re-usable connection.
If you switch from the RDP to the VNC protocol in the entry field beneath the toolbar, enter your VNC server’s address, and click ‘Connect,’ you will make a quick connection.
To establish a re-usable connection, you need to click on ‘New’ to open the ‘Remote Desktop Preference’ panel. Then, you need to configure the Server, Username, Password, Colour depth, and Quality.
At last, you should select your server profile and click ‘Connect.’ And that’s all about it! Now you can switch to full-screen mode, change view or graphics quality.
Are There Any Other Good Tools To Use?
There sure are! Apart from the Remmina Software support tool, you can also go for one of the following remote Linux desktop-sharing software:
All remote Linux desktop-sharing software has its pros and cons. So, make sure to choose wisely.
How Can Xrdp Help You?
Xrdp is a free and open-source implementation of the Microsoft RDP server. It enables operating systems other than Microsoft Windows, say Linux, to provide a fully functional RDP-compatible remote desktop experience.
The protocol works with rdesktop, FreeRDP, and Microsoft’s own Remote Desktop Client. Xrdp operates on a simple principle. It brings graphics from the X Window System to the client and relaying controls from the client back to X. Essentially, Xrdp behaves much better than VNC, mainly due to the user desktop manager.
Conclusion
Linux RDP provides for tremendous flexibility in working. However, it also comes with its drawbacks. If you go for this option, you must always keep one thing in mind – security. See, as you can easily establish a connection to your server, so can a hacker or other third party. So, it would be best if you went for a web hosting provider with many security-enhancing features.
Furthermore, you need to note that your method of gaining remote access determines your range of access. More precisely, if you access the Linux admin using SSH, it will limit you to the text-only terminal on the computer. However, you can use the resources on the remote desktop with remote desktop software. Better yet, each carried out operation carried on the remote desktop will remain on the remote desktop. It’s as simple as that!
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