Solved Connect from Windows TO full Linux GUI desktop ?? anybody

Hi folks
SSH from Windows is easy enough to connect to Linux NAS in command mode

e.g to a TEST minimal NAS running ArchLinux (No GUI installed on that system).



However I'd like to connect to a FEDORA system running either KDE or MINT as a GUI so I've got access to the full desktop workspace plus applications.

I've ensured that the current user isn't already running a "GUI" session on the NAS (that causes problems if the same user tries to access a GUI) but I'm not sure what I need to do on the Windows side to get access to the Linux GUI.

I'm sure there's loads here who've done this sort of stuff - but networking isn't my area - especially from Windows.

Note running either W11 pro Enterprise or W11 Pro so remote connection shouldn't be a problem - especially as ssh works.

Cheers
jimbo

You could look into using xrdp. I've used it in the (distant) past and it worked very well on the lan and remotely over a corporate vpn.

grumpus said:

You could look into using xrdp. I've used it in the (distant) past and it worked very well on the lan and remotely over a corporate vpn.

Click to expand...

Hi there
The Linux side is OK -- but the question is what do I use on Windows -- should bog standard RDP just work --I'm interested on a LAN rather than Internet so security here isn't of primary concern when using RDP.

I'll set the Test NAS up with minimal GUI e.g Mint or something and try RDP to see what happens. I'll also ensure the user isn't logged in automatically on the NAS when direct login on the NAS.

Cheers
jimbo


Cheers
jimbo

@jimbo45 Just curious, did you mean Linux Mint's KDE desktop? I run Linux Mint 21.3 with the Cinnamon desktop.

You use the normal remote desktop client in windows, which displays an X desktop on the remote *nix machine. Google will turn up all kinds of advice on setting things up, for example: Fedora 40 : Configure Xrdp Server : Server World

Hi folks
@Berton
@grumpus
and others who might be interested.

Thanks for all suggestions. Problem now solved !!


Fixed now -- tested with Budgie desktop and lightdm -- absolutely minimal desktop but does what I need (99% of time cmd line is fine).

Old test NASserver here (MBR only and old VGA type video connector - so don't want those old cables around !!!) - Basically only using for file / multimedia serving / sharing and backups.

With a few Windowed apps e.g firefox etc only 900MB used for the OS (that's why I like Arch Linux - you can run a really minimal lean and fast system even on the oldest of hardware !!!!)/

Note this desktop doesn't pin apps to the screen but nothing wrong in using the menu - It's only a few times where I'd need a GUI !!!.




Marking as Solved -- I needed Freerdp rather than XRDP on Arch linux bit Windows connection fine via RDP.

Cheers
jimbo