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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →rdesktop is an open-source Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client for connecting from Linux to a remote Windows computer. Its official project documentation says it implements RDP versions 4 and 5 and works with Windows NT 4 Terminal Server through Windows 2012 R2 RDS. However, the project also warns that it is no longer maintained and that reported vulnerabilities have not been reviewed. Treat it as legacy software, especially for connections across untrusted networks.
What rdesktop does—and what it does not
rdesktop runs on the client side: it connects to an existing RDP server or service; it does not turn your Linux computer into an RDP server. The project describes support for RDP versions 4 and 5 and states compatibility from Windows NT 4 Terminal Server through Windows 2012 R2 RDS. That documented range is not a guarantee of compatibility with newer Windows Server releases. The official rdesktop repository also cautions that the project is no longer maintained, has gone many years without a patch, and has reported vulnerabilities that have not been reviewed.
How to connect with rdesktop
You need a reachable server name or address and an account authorized to sign in. The simplest documented invocation is:
rdesktop serverReplace server with the server’s hostname or IP address. The Debian manual documents the general syntax as rdesktop [options] server[:port]. For example, specify a non-default port by appending it to the host as server:port.
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- In any circumstance, it does a good job! 1. Press the SET button for more than 4 seconds, the yellow LED will blink once and lit. 2. Align the Rii remote IR Light with the original remote IR Light. (note: distance less than 7cm). Then, press the key to be programmed, LED indicator will flash twice and be on, which means the key is ready for programming. 3. Press the key to be programmed in the original remote. Rii remote LED will flash three times and be on, indicating the programming is complet
- Repeat steps 2-4 and finish the programming for other keys. 5. Press Set or leave it without any operation 10 seconds. Rii remote will exit programming mode. Note: The remote control can only support a remote control.
Specify a username or domain
Use -u for the username and -d for the domain:
rdesktop -u username -d DOMAIN serverUse the account and domain format expected by your Windows environment. Consult the Debian rdesktop manual for the documented options.
Keep passwords out of process arguments
A password supplied directly as a command-line argument may be visible to other local users through process-listing tools. The manual documents -p - to prompt for a password through standard input; use that rather than placing a password in the command itself. Access to a local machine and its processes still matters, so use rdesktop only in an environment you trust.
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Display, keyboard, and redirection options
The manual documents options for choosing a keyboard map and setting display geometry. Which features work can depend on how rdesktop was packaged or built. In particular, automatically reconnecting after a screen-size change depends on RandR support in that build.
Smart-card redirection is optional, not a requirement for an ordinary remote desktop connection. The project’s build instructions say it requires PCSC-lite and enabling the feature at build time. Do not assume a particular smart-card reader is supported based on that general feature description.
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Installing or building rdesktop
Use a package from your Linux distribution when available, while checking its version and maintenance status. A package manual page may describe one distribution’s packaged build rather than every release or compile-time feature. The Debian manual page reviewed here identifies package version 1.9.0-2+b2.
For a source build, the project README gives the usual GNU build sequence:
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- Run
./configureto configure the build. - Run
maketo compile it. - Run
make installto install it.
Optional capabilities, including smart-card support, may require extra dependencies and build-time configuration. A successful build does not change the project’s maintenance or vulnerability status.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What version 1.9.0 tells you
The official GitHub releases page lists v1.9.0 as the latest release in its release list. Its notes describe certificate-handling improvements, dynamic session resizing, PulseAudio support, Kerberos support on macOS, and smart-card and disk-redirection fixes. Earlier releases also record security fixes. Those historical changes do not establish that vulnerabilities reported after the project stopped being maintained have been reviewed or fixed. See the official release history alongside the repository’s maintenance warning.
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Should you use rdesktop today?
For a new or security-sensitive connection, the project’s own warning is decisive: rdesktop is unmaintained, and reported vulnerabilities have not been reviewed. Prefer a currently maintained RDP client whose documentation explicitly covers your target Windows version and required authentication and redirection features. The sources cited here do not establish a current head-to-head comparison with alternatives, so verify those details for the client and environment you choose.
If you are assessing rdesktop for a legacy system, check the specific connection requirements before relying on it:
Quick Recap
- Confirm that the target server falls within the project’s stated compatibility range; newer Windows Server compatibility is not established here.
- Check whether the authentication method your server requires is supported. Do not assume support for modern requirements such as NLA/CredSSP from the documented RDP version numbers alone.
- Verify that any needed clipboard, drive, printer, audio, smart-card, or display-resize redirection works with your package or build.
- Consider the security implications of connecting with software that is no longer maintained, particularly when the network or endpoint is not fully trusted.
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