Remote Desktop

Networking 2026-08-28

Shani OS includes both client and server tools for graphical remote desktop access. All tools are pre-installed.

Client — Connect to a Remote Desktop

FreeRDP (RDP Client)

Connect to Windows machines or any RDP-capable server:

# Basic RDP connection
xfreerdp /v:192.168.1.100 /u:username /p:password /dynamic-resolution /gfx /rfx

# Full-screen, multi-monitor
xfreerdp /v:server.example.com /u:me /f /multimon

# RDP over SSH tunnel (recommended for untrusted networks)
ssh -L 3389:192.168.1.100:3389 jumphost &
xfreerdp /v:localhost /u:username

VNC Client

Any VNC viewer can connect to a VNC server:

vncviewer hostname:5900

KDE Edition: kRDP (RDP Server)

Enable in Settings → System → Remote Desktop → Enable Remote Desktop.

# Or enable via systemd
systemctl --user enable --now plasma-remotedesktop

Once enabled, your desktop is accessible from Windows Remote Desktop Connection or any RDP client using your machine's IP address.

KDE Edition: krfb (VNC Server)

# Enable the VNC server
systemctl --user enable --now krfb

# Connect from any VNC viewer
vncviewer hostname:5900

krfb can also be configured to prompt for permission each time someone connects — enable this in System Settings → Remote Desktop → Ask for confirmation.

GNOME Edition: gnome-remote-desktop

Pre-installed on the GNOME edition. Enable in Settings → Sharing → Remote Desktop.

# Enable RDP and set credentials
grdctl rdp enable
grdctl rdp set-credentials username password

# Check status
grdctl status

Supports both RDP and VNC protocols simultaneously.

Firewall

Open the required ports if you are accepting remote desktop connections:

# RDP (port 3389)
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=rdp --permanent

# VNC (port 5900; adjust if using a different display number)
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5900/tcp --permanent

sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Security: Avoid exposing RDP or VNC directly to the internet. Instead, connect via Tailscale or tunnel over SSH (ssh -L 3389:localhost:3389 yourserver). See the OpenSSH wiki page for SSH tunnel details.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Cannot connect (connection refused)	Check that the server service is running: `systemctl --user status plasma-remotedesktop` or `grdctl status`; verify the firewall port is open
Black screen on connect	Log out of any active local session first — some RDP implementations cannot share a session that is already displayed on a local monitor
Poor performance / lag	Use RDP instead of VNC for LAN connections — RDP is hardware-accelerated; for VNC, enable compression in your viewer
Windows RDP client shows certificate warning	This is expected for self-signed certificates — accept and remember the certificate
krfb prompts "someone is trying to connect" every time	Disable confirmation in System Settings → Remote Desktop → Ask for confirmation