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To access a virtual machine from another computer, connect with SSH for a Linux terminal or RDP for a graphical desktop, then make sure the VM is running, reachable over the network, and configured to accept your credentials. If it has no public IP, use a private network route or a supported broker such as Azure Bastion. The exact steps depend on whether the VM is cloud-hosted or runs on a computer you manage.
Choose a connection method
First identify the guest operating system and the interface you want. SSH and RDP are different tools for different access needs; installing a client on your computer does not by itself make the VM reachable.
| What you want to access | Typical method | What must be in place |
|---|---|---|
| Linux command line | SSH | A running VM, a reachable address or route, a username and SSH key, and a network rule permitting SSH—typically TCP 22. Microsoft’s Azure Linux VM guide describes SSH as the most common way to access a Linux VM. |
| Windows graphical desktop | RDP | A running VM, valid sign-in credentials and guest permissions, and TCP access to the RDP listening port—normally 3389—permitted from the connecting computer. See Microsoft’s Azure RDP guide. |
| Linux graphical desktop | RDP through xrdp | A Linux desktop and xrdp service configured in the guest, plus an account password. Direct access requires a network rule for TCP 3389; an SSH tunnel is an alternative to exposing RDP directly. See Microsoft’s xrdp guide. |
These port numbers are defaults in the cited cloud-provider guidance. A VM may use a different configured port, so check the service and its network rules rather than assuming the defaults.
Connect to a cloud VM with a public address
Linux terminal with SSH
- Confirm that the VM is running and note its reachable address, username, and SSH key. The key and account must correspond to the VM.
- Check the VM’s network controls, such as its cloud firewall or security-group rule. Permit TCP 22 from the client computer’s IP address when using the default SSH port, and verify that the guest allows SSH connections.
- On the other computer, open an SSH client and connect to the VM’s address using the appropriate username and key. If the service uses a non-default port, use the configured port.
If the VM has no public IP, do not try to connect directly to an address the client cannot route to. Use a supported private route or a broker such as Azure Bastion instead.
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Windows desktop with RDP
- Confirm that the Windows VM is running, and obtain its address and valid guest sign-in credentials.
- Allow inbound TCP access to the VM’s RDP listening port, normally 3389, from the connecting computer’s IP address. Also confirm that the guest has RDP enabled and that the account is allowed to sign in remotely.
- Open an RDP client on the other computer, enter the VM’s address and connect. Sign in with the guest credentials.
A reachable RDP port is not enough if the service is disabled, the credentials are wrong, or the account lacks permission. Microsoft’s Azure instructions cover the Windows connection path.
Connect to a Linux VM desktop
Linux does not provide a graphical desktop over SSH; for desktop access, the VM needs a desktop environment and a remote desktop service such as xrdp configured in the guest. The Microsoft xrdp guidance requires a local user password for this login method—an SSH key is not accepted as the xrdp password. It also notes that xrdp does not support Network Level Authentication.
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- Configure the Linux guest with the required desktop environment and xrdp service, following instructions appropriate to its distribution and version.
- Choose direct RDP or a tunnel. Direct access requires TCP 3389 to be allowed by the network controls and reachable from the client. An SSH tunnel can avoid opening RDP directly to the network.
- Connect with an RDP client and use the Linux account password. Ensure that the account and service are configured for remote desktop access.
See Microsoft’s xrdp instructions for the Azure-specific setup and troubleshooting details.
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Access a VM without exposing a public port
Azure Bastion
Azure Bastion brokers SSH or RDP access to VMs in its virtual network without exposing the VM’s SSH or RDP ports to the public internet. It supports browser-based connection, with native-client options also available for supported scenarios. The VM still needs to be configured for the protocol and credentials you use. See Microsoft’s Azure Bastion RDP instructions and its SSH connection instructions.
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Private network route
A client can connect to a VM’s private IP when its network has a route into the VM’s network, for example through a VPN or dedicated network connection, and the relevant firewall rules permit the traffic. Google Cloud documents private-IP RDP when the client network reaches the VPC through Cloud VPN or Cloud Interconnect and the firewall permits TCP ingress on port 3389: Google Cloud’s Windows VM connection guide.
If the VM runs on a computer you manage
Home-hosted VMs do not have one universal set of connection steps. The right configuration depends on the hypervisor, host and guest operating systems, VM network mode, and whether the two computers are on the same local network or separated by the internet. The cloud-provider instructions above do not establish a generic VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V setup.
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- For two computers on the same LAN, determine whether the VM has an address the second computer can route to and whether its guest firewall and remote-access service allow the connection.
- For access across the internet, first choose a secure, supported route. Do not assume that forwarding a port on a home router is sufficient or safe; the VM’s network mode, service configuration, firewall, and exposure all matter.
- Use instructions for your specific hypervisor and network mode before changing networking or firewall settings.
Troubleshoot a failed connection
Check these items in order; the cause is often a missing route or a service that is not listening rather than a problem with the client application.
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- Address and route: Confirm that the address is current and reachable from the other computer. For a private IP, check the VPN or other private route; for a brokered connection, use the broker’s supported path.
- Protocol and port: Match the client to the service—SSH for a Linux terminal, RDP for a desktop—and check the service’s actual listening port. The cloud guides commonly cite TCP 22 for SSH and TCP 3389 for RDP.
- Network rules: Check both cloud-level rules and the guest firewall. Confirm that the rule allows traffic from the intended client and to the correct VM port.
- Guest service: Make sure SSH, RDP, or xrdp is enabled and listening in the guest. For xrdp, check its desktop configuration and password-based login requirements.
- Credentials and permissions: Verify the username, key or password, and that the account is authorized for the requested type of access.
For cloud VMs, consult the provider’s connection guide for service-specific checks: Linux SSH, Windows RDP, and Linux xrdp.
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