Remote desktop applications
Long-Distance Relationship
© Lead Image © alphaspirit, 123RF.com
Remote desktop applications allow remote access to machines, including desktop sharing, which makes them useful assistants in both the personal and professional spheres. We look at a few candidates.
If you need to administer computers over a long distance – whether for work or to help out friends or relations – the time for remote desktop software has arrived. It allows admins to repair the desktops of far-flung relatives in their free time. The software also comes in useful for businesses looking to provide support for their customers from afar. Desktop sharing is a core function, which means if a developer wants to present a new website to their colleagues, they can do so with ease.
In the end, roughly two types of remote desktop applications can be distinguished, with fairly fluid definitions. On remote desktop applications using virtual network computing (VNC), one machine operates as the server. It sends the image of its desktop as a compressed bitmap to the client. The programs run on the server; the user manages them on the client by sending mouse movements and keystrokes to the server.
During desktop sharing, applications that use remote desktop protocol (RDP) or proprietary protocols send screen content as terminal servers. This is sent over the network to one or more clients (multichannel) in the form of primitives, a mixture of images and information. They can even transmit the desktop sound if needed. The users then work on the server's desktop, alone or in parallel with other users, as if sitting directly in front of it.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.