In the modern era of remote work and virtual collaboration, having the ability to access your desktop remotely is crucial. This article will guide you on how to set up a remote desktop to Ubuntu with multi-monitor support. We will discuss four different solutions: x2go, FreeRDP, NoMachine NX, and Teamviewer.
To remote desktop to Ubuntu with multi-monitor support, you can use x2go, FreeRDP, NoMachine NX, or Teamviewer. Each solution has its own installation and configuration process, but they all provide the ability to access your Ubuntu desktop remotely and utilize multiple monitors for enhanced productivity.
x2go
x2go is an open-source remote desktop application for GNU/Linux that uses the NX technology protocol. It supports multi-monitor setups and allows you to use both monitors on the remote computer.
Installation
To set up x2go, you need to install the x2go server on the remote computer and the x2go client on the local computer. For Ubuntu 14.04 and higher versions, you can use the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install x2goserver x2goserver-xsessionOn the local machine, install the x2go client:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install x2goclientUsage
Once installed, you can launch the x2go client, input the IP address of the remote machine, select the session type (e.g., XFCE), and then connect.
FreeRDP
FreeRDP is another remote desktop solution that supports multi-monitor setups.
Installation
You can install FreeRDP using the following command:
sudo apt-get install freerdp2-x11Ensure that the installed version is greater than 1.1 for multi-monitor support.
Usage
Once installed, you can use the xfreerdp command from the terminal to connect to the remote computer. The /multimon flag is used to enable multi-monitor support:
xfreerdp /v:server /u:user /p:password /multimonIn this command, replace ‘server’ with the IP address of the remote machine, ‘user’ with your username, and ‘password’ with your password.
NoMachine NX
NoMachine NX is a remote desktop solution that offers multi-monitor support. It provides improved multi-monitor support in its 4.x version.
Installation
You can download the NoMachine package from their website and install it using the following commands:
cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i nomachine_*.debUsage
Once installed, you can launch NoMachine from the applications menu, connect to the remote machine, and use the ‘Change monitor’ option to switch between screens.
Teamviewer
Teamviewer is a popular remote desktop program that supports multi-monitor setups.
Installation
You can download the Teamviewer package from their website and install it using the following commands:
cd ~/Downloads
sudo dpkg -i teamviewer_*.debUsage
With Teamviewer, you can quickly switch between monitors using the ‘Monitor’ button in the Teamviewer toolbar.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed four different solutions for setting up a remote desktop to Ubuntu with multi-monitor support. Each solution has its own installation and configuration process, so choose the one that best suits your needs. With these tools, you can access your Ubuntu desktop remotely and utilize both monitors, enhancing your productivity and efficiency.
Yes, some of these solutions, such as Teamviewer and NoMachine, are cross-platform and can be used on various operating systems including Windows and macOS.
No, you can still use multi-monitor support on the remote machine even if your local machine only has a single monitor. The remote desktop solutions allow you to switch between screens on the remote machine.
Yes, you can access your Ubuntu desktop remotely from anywhere as long as you have a stable internet connection. However, you may need to configure your router or firewall settings to allow remote desktop connections.
Yes, these remote desktop solutions provide secure connections by encrypting the data transmitted between the local and remote machines. However, it is always recommended to use strong passwords and keep your software up to date to ensure maximum security.
Yes, all of the mentioned remote desktop solutions support using multiple monitors on the remote machine. You can extend your desktop across multiple screens or choose to display different windows on each monitor, depending on your preference.
