For a computer to access a remote desktop using VNC it must have VNC Client software. VNC is not the only system of this sort. But it is the system we'll use for this task, if only because VNC's software licensing (it is open source) is friendly to Linux systems like Ubuntu. Privileged Remote Access gives you the ability to centrally secure and audit access across all of these environments. Privileged Remote Access also works to and from every platform your privileged users need, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. Plus, users can leverage desktop-quality access through Android or iOS (iPad, iPhone) apps.

This article describes our enhancements to the Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux remote desktop clients. We provide new approaches for improving the user experience in remote sessions.

Contents:

Main Purpose of Microsoft RDP

I'm trying to use the MS Remote Desktop client to connect to a Linux Ubuntu 14.04 server running xrdp. I can connect just fine into the desktop and most applications appear to work, however, some legacy applications have problems displaying correctly on the Mac side. For example, on certain windows, the text fields of a form don't show up. Remote Utilities. Includes lots of remote access tools. Great for both spontaneous and unattended. Whether connecting to other Mac based systems, or desktops running Windows or Linux, you can count on AnyDesk’s stable operation and cross-compatibility. AnyDesk for Mac provides the features and tools you need to connect with desktops or servers in any location. Our remote desktop app ensures a stable, secure, and super-fast connection.

The Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol that provides users with remote access to a server running RDP server software.

We can’t do without Microsoft products. However, there are some cases when iOS, Android, Mac, or Linux devices are more effective because of corporate specifics or job requirements. Unfortunately, there are some applications that are compatible only with Windows and don’t have alternatives for iOS, Android, macOS, or Linux. In this case, it's reasonable to use terminal servers (or virtual desktop infrastructure) running on Microsoft server operating systems. For this purpose, Microsoft developed the Remote Desktop Protocol, or RDP.

In addition to data transfer protocols, Microsoft also has client applications for transferring data to remote desktops. The most popular Microsoft RDP clients are for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

However, it’s impossible for Microsoft to implement every function that their users may want in their products. Fortunately, there's a sufficient number of custom RDP solutions for different platforms that eliminate the need to look for an alternative remote desktop client.

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Microsoft RDP Enhancements

The experts at our company provide a wide range of solutions and enhancements for Microsoft RDP clients.

We can establish a remote Windows/Linux session or a RemoteApp on Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux. On top of that, we provide users with a range of additional functionality that ensures a more convenient and secure RDP workflow in remote sessions.

In addition to supporting standard RDP functions, we have our own set of RDP enhancements.

Flash Content Viewer

Our solution redirects Flash content from the remote server to the client. This implementation reduces the workload for the server processor and redirects Flash content to the client processor, ensuring better scalability and improved productivity with full synchronization of audio and video streams.

Our Flash content viewer lets you control Flash channel bandwidth and connect to the internet either from the client or the server.

This approach allows users to easily access Fash content such as educational and corporate video lessons as well as built-in flash videos on many websites.

Supported client platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Using this function in the default RDP, you may face such problems as Flash content playing as a slide-show or audio and video lag.

Single-Driver Printing Solution

We developed a single-driver printing solution for adding printing functions that aren’t available in RD Easy Print. Because our solution uses a universal printer driver, there's no need to install a printer driver on remote servers as is required with the regular RDP printing functionality.

This solution also has advanced RDP settings (which aren't available in Microsoft RDP) that let you choose the packaging method for transferring data, change channel workload, opt for manual printer selection (to select a printer session), and configure a distributed system.

Supported client platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

USB Redirection

Our approach allows you to redirect any client USB devices to the remote session. These devices can be web cameras, printers, scanners, flash-disks, tablets, smartphones, or other devices such as Busy Light.

After being redirected to the remote session, the user of the remote session can interact with the USB device as if it were local.

Supported client platforms: Windows, Linux.

This function isn’t available in the original version of RDP, which only has an option to redirect PnP devices to the remote session using Windows RD client functions. However, not all USB devices are recognized as PnP.

Enhanced Remote Audio Redirection

Enhanced remote audio redirection ensures high-quality bidirectional sound, allowing you to play high-quality audio content and redirect microphone inputs and headphone outputs to a remote session.

The advantage of our solution is that we don't limit you to using only standard codecs, but rather let you choose audio codecs according to your needs (be that a board meeting call, day-to-day phone calls, or playing high-quality songs). Using our solution, you'll get better sound with less network bandwidth and the opportunity to choose your quality.

Our solution is compatible with the following applications:

• Microsoft Office Communicator
• Avaya Software
• Skype and Skype for business

This function is very important for cases whenever audio is involved. For instance, our solution can be used during conference calls when people need to approve important business decisions, build a future business strategy, or pitch projects.

Supported client platforms: Windows, Linux.

Remote Sound Redirection in the Browser

Companies often simplify remote session configurations for their employees, providing them with only a website URL for running a remote session.

The session runs in a browser and allows user to access remote functionality using various office applications, taking part in group calls, watching educational videos, and so on.

We've successfully implemented remote sound redirection in remote sessions running on Internet Explorer, Edge, Safari, Firefox, Chrome, and other browsers for Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, and Linux clients.

It’s important that this implementation avoids long audio delays. Our specialists did a lot of work to achieve acceptable latency for users that's ~50–150 milliseconds depending on the network and environment.

Microsoft doesn’t provide any alternative RDP function for its clients.

Read also:
Specifics of Testing of Sound Redirection in Terminal Sessions

Clipboard for Text (Files) Redirection

Our clipboard for text (files) redirection feature overcomes limitations on sharing files and text between the client and the remote session.

This solution allows a user to copy a text from iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux devices and paste it to the remote session – and vice versa. It also lets users share files between Mac and Linux devices and the remote session.

Text and file copying isn’t available in some Microsoft RD clients.

Microphone Redirection

This solution allows users to redirect the microphone from iOS, Android, Mac, and Linux devices to a remote session and use it for audio recording and calls.

Microsoft RD clients for iOS, Android, and macOS platforms don’t have functionality for microphone redirection.

Adaptive Graphics

Adaptive Graphics allows you to use a technology for remote session rendering so you can take advantage of RemoteFX adaptive graphics.

In addition to RemoteFX adaptive graphics, you can also use advanced codecs (H.264 clear+progressive) that significantly reduce bandwidth usage without loss of picture quality.

Adaptive graphics is supported by Windows operating systems starting from Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.

Beginning with Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2 operating systems, Microsoft RDP uses only two streams:

Clear codec is used for text data by letting the operating system know that it's dealing with a text and transferring that data as text (this is typical for PDF, MS Office files, etc.).

Progressive codec is designed for pictures. The main advantage of this codec is that it allows you to send a picture at a lower quality and then render it to its initial quality.

AVC 444 is used as the one and only codec starting from Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016:

AVC 444 allows you to process text and pictures in one stream. This is achieved by compressing transferred data and reducing the network workload thanks to the increased processing workload on the server and the client (if a client has a dedicated graphics card).

Supported client platforms: Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Linux.

Dynamic Resizing Feature Support

The dynamic resolution feature is used when an iOS or Android device's orientation changes(for instance, from landscape to portrait). In this case, the remote session resolution will be automatically resized to fill the screen depending on the device's orientation.

Our solution allows the user to fully concentrate on the session workflow without paying attention to the device orientation. In simple words, we make the user workflow more comfortable.

The dynamic resizing feature isn’t available in the default Microsoft RD client for iOS.

This feature is also supported in Mac and Linux devices and activates in case the session or application window is resized (in which case the user doesn’t see a scroll bar for the session window as all data is seized according to the new screen size), the screen resolution is changed, or a display is plugged in or unplugged.

Dynamic resizing is performed without reconnecting to remote session with new operating systems like Windows Server 2012R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows 10, Windows 8.1.

Dynamic resizing requires reconnecting in old operating systems like Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows Server 2008R2, and Server 2012.

The Microsoft RD client for macOS doesn’t support this feature. After a session window is resized in macOS, the user sees a scroll bar.

Remote FX Multitouch Gestures Support for Android and iOS

Tablets use touch screens and don’t require a physical keyboard and mouse. For more convenience, we implemented multitouch gestures in remote sessions, which are launched from iOS and Android clients.

Remote FX multitouch gestures allows you to use specific gestures to control the remote server (left/right click; select an area; move, drag or resize an object; scroll up and down; zoom in and out; quick zoom in and out, etc.). The feature is supported starting with Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8.

This function isn’t fully implemented in the Microsoft RD client for iOS or Android.

Conclusion

If you're looking for extended RDP functionality as part of your solution for remote desktop, our specialists can provide you with an SDK for our custom RDP solutions. We can also help you implement existing RDP enhancements in your solution or work on further developing this technology.

There are numerous reasons behind the use of remote desktops, which play a crucial role in today’s IT software ecosystem. If you’re providing support services for desktops and laptops, working with virtual servers or applications, or working in a company in which the offices are distributed nationally or internationally, you’ll be using remote desktop software.

Windows systems come with a built-in protocol for remote connections. Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) provides a graphical interface through which users can connect to a remote computer via a network connection. However, there are now several RDP alternatives on the market, designed to address potential functionality gaps. My top recommendation for a remote desktop alternative is SolarWinds^® Dameware^®, offering an on-premises and a cloud version, both designed to facilitate the easy handling of remote desktop issues.

What Is RDP?

RDP, short for Remote Desktop Protocol, is a protocol developed by Microsoft. It allows you to connect to another computer using a graphical user interface, so you can interact with the remote machine. You can control a remote desktop session and delete or copy text between applications running on the host machine and the guest machine. This helps with remote troubleshooting and issue resolution, so IT staff won’t need to go directly to the computer experiencing the problem.

However, with the rise of cybercrime have come warnings about the security of RDP. Moreover, several RDP alternatives have appeared on the market, many of which offer much more in the way of capabilities depending on your specific needs. If you’re looking for an alternative to Remote Desktop Protocol, consider the options below.

Best Remote Desktop Alternatives

Dameware Remote Support is a significant upgrade from RDP, designed to provide all of the same features as the Microsoft protocol along with added features that help enhance problem resolution and cybersecurity on remote devices. Like RDP, DRS makes it easy to connect remotely to other computers. With additional features built to go beyond those in RDP, DRS makes for a comprehensive and easy-to-use remote desktop connection manager alternative.

Like RDP, DRS offers multi-platform remote access, with support for Mac, Windows, and Linux computers. In an enterprise setting, for example, it can work across your Windows desktops, Linux servers, and Mac devices staff may connect with from home. That includes providing access to computers from Android and Apple devices including tablets, which are not supported in RDP.

Both RDP and DRS offer the ability to connect over both the internet and LAN. This is particularly important in DRS since this, along with the tool’s other features, can help facilitate straightforward troubleshooting. With both DRS and RDP, you can remotely reboot entire systems or stop services and processes if something is causing the system to fail. DRS is designed to go beyond that, though—it includes system tools that allow you to fix problems on a computer you’re connected to remotely without having to interrupt the user’s session. DRS, like RDP, also lets you directly copy and paste—or delete—text in applications between the host and guest machine.

Dameware Remote Support offers a free trial for up to 14 days.

Another good option to consider, particularly if you are working in a cloud-based IT environment, is Dameware Remote Everywhere. DRE is in some ways the same tool as DRS, but it offers slightly different features.

First, DRE is designed for use in the cloud, which means it is accessible from any compatible device with internet connection. RDP also connects to remote devices over the internet; however, a distinction between the two tools may arise when it comes to speed. While DRE has a particular focus on speed, with remote connections typically established within eight seconds, RDP typically has slower connection times.

DRE also includes additional features for taking screenshots and recording during remote sessions and connecting with the user through VoIP or video call. RDP doesn’t natively include these features, with the only way to record or take screenshots during remote sessions is by implementing outside tools and procedures.

Dameware Remote Everywhere offers a free trial for 14 days.

Royal TS provides support for RDP and other connection protocols, including VNC, SSH, FTP and SFTP, and connection through web-based interfaces. Like other professional tools, it includes credentials management and sharing features, so you don’t need to log in repeatedly. It also provides remote troubleshooting capabilities.

One of the unique features of Royal TS is it can create command tasks and key sequence tasks, which allow you to create your own tasks and automate parts of your troubleshooting processes. For example, ping and traceroute are built in, and you can automate repetitive tasks, so you can execute them as soon as a connection is established.

Royal TS distinguishes itself from RDP when it comes to credential allocation. While RDP lets you save and share credentials between teammates, it does not let you save credentials tied to a remote desktop gateway. Not only does Royal TS let you create objects and folders and dynamically allocate credentials, it also lets you link folders and connections to inherit credentials. These features are designed to facilitate strong access and security measures.

Torrent Client For Mac

Royal TS offers a free download of its “Lite” version, which allows up to 10 connections and 10 credentials. The paid version is also available through the developer’s website.

If you’re looking for an RDP alternative specifically for use with Mac computers or mobile devices, Edovia produces many products, including several versions of Screens.

Screens iOS allows you to control other computers from your iPhone or iPad, using an SSH connection. It can connect to Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, and Windows PCs, using the Screens Connect app. You can view the current session (e.g., for troubleshooting), or start a new session.

Screens Mac provides the same capabilities as Screens iOS, but from Mac OS systems.

There is a free trial of Screens Mac, and a free version, called Screens Express, with limited usage for specific circumstances. Screens Mac is downloadable through the Edovia website. You can buy Screens iOS from the App Store.

Terminals is an open-source remote desktop manager intended to manage the problem of controlling multiple connections simultaneously. It integrates RDP as one of the protocols it supports, but also works with VNC, VMRC, SSH, Telnet, RAS, Citrix ICA, and HTTP and HTTPs.

It includes several basic features to make the remote connection experience smoother, including a multi-tab interface, resizable windows, customizable toolbars, and a connections history, so you can see which machines you have connected to recently. You can also search by server name and look at protocol notes. This tool is high-quality, but basic, and it may not be suitable for a large enterprise needing a greater set of features for IT support and troubleshooting management.

Remote Desktop Client For Mac To Linux Download

You can download Terminals for free on Github.

Best Remote Desktop For Mac

As a free tool, Terminals is a mRemoteNG alternative. For a comparison of mRemoteNG vs. Terminals, look at both repositories in Github to view the documentation, as it gets a little technical.

How to Choose an RDP Alternative

There are several factors behind choosing a good RDP alternative, but your decision will in large part depend on the number of connections you’re dealing with, the type of information in your environment (e.g., if it’s sensitive and needs extra security), and the size of your enterprise.

Remote Desktop Client For Mac To Linux Windows 7

A free or open-source tool might be suitable in a low-risk, small business environment, in which case Terminals is a good choice. For a large enterprise or a company with sensitive data, invest in a professional tool such as Dameware Remote Support or Dameware Remote Everywhere.