How to connect Rocky Linux 8 via Windows RDP protocol

If you have Rocky Linux 8 desktop and Windows 7/10/11 in a local environment and want to access using the RDP- Remote desktop protocol, then here is the way.

To connect Linux operating systems such as Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux 8, or CentOS, we can use the open-source implementation of Remote desktop protocol called XRDP. RDP is developed by Microsoft and has been an integral part of Windows operating systems. It allows the users to remotely control and use the GUI desktop systems just like a local one. Although, Windows can be operated over this protocol out of the box, for Linux we need to install some additional packages. Here we learn how to set up a remote desktop connect to Rocky Linux 8.

Access Rocky Linux 8 Remote Desktop using Windows 7/10/11 RDP

The given guide can be used for Rocky Linux, Almalinux, CentOS 8/7, RHEL 8/7, Oracle Linux, and other similar RHEL based operating systems.

Note: Your Linux must be running on a Graphical user interface, if not then see given how-tos.

 

1. Add Epel Repository on Rocky Linux

The packages to install XRDP on Rocky Linux are not available via the default App stream repository of the operating system. Hence, first, we have to enable the EPEL- Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux repository using the below-given command:

sudo dnf install epel-release

 

2. Run system update

Issue the update command once, to refresh the system cache and update already installed Linux packages to their latest versions.

sudo dnf update

 

3. Install XRDP on Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux 8

As at the beginning of the article, we already have discusses that XRDP is the open-source implementation of the Microsoft RDP, it uses port number 3389 to establish a connection. And of course, it is not available out of the box like Windows on Linux system, therefore, we manually need to set it up.  Use the below-given command:

sudo dnf install xrdp

 

4. Start and Enable XRDP service

To make sure the Xrdp service will start automatically whenever the system boots, we have to enable the same. Therefore, first, start and then enable the service using the given command:

sudo systemctl start xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdp

To check the service is running fine without any errors, use this one:

systemctl status xrdp

XRDP installed on Rocky Linux 8

 

5. Allow port 3389 in the firewall

If you have an activated firewall on your Rocky or other RHEL based Linux you are using then to connect it over Remote desktop protocol, allow port 3389 through the firewall.

#Add Firewall 

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=3389/tcp

#Reload Firewall service

firewall-cmd --reload

 

6. Log out Linux session

Now, log out your current Rocky Linux session, so that we can access it on Windows using its Remote desktop application.

Log out Rocky Linux

 

7. Run Windows 7/8//10/11/server Remote Desktop

Now, go to your Windows operating system and search to open Remote Desktop Application. Alternatively, you can use the RUN box. Press the Win+R key and type- mstsc.exe after that hit the Enter key.

Once you have the Remote Desktop Connection box, enter your remote Linux IP address, here it is for Rocky Linux.

Enter the remote desktop ipaddress

 

8. Login Rocky Linux Remote Desktop

Once the connection is established you will have the Xvnc window to enter the username and password of the remote Linux operating system. Enter that and hit the OK button.

Login remote Linux desktop XRDP

Finally, you can use your remote Linux graphical user interface on Windows using the Remote desktop protocol.

Rocky Linux remote desktop

 

 

2 thoughts on “How to connect Rocky Linux 8 via Windows RDP protocol”

  1. FYI, had to reboot for it to work under the username that the command was run.
    On other created users, no reboot needed.

    Reply

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