How to Use Windows Remote Desktop to Access Linux and Vice Versa

1. Windows Remote Desktop to Linux

We use a CentOS 7.7 host as the Linux target.

# cat /etc/redhat-release
CentOS Linux release 7.7.1908 (Core)

Check if the GNOME desktop is installed: # rpm -qa | grep gnome-desktop If no output, install GNOME: # yum -y groups install "GNOME Desktop" Install the xrdp package (enable EPEL first):

# yum -y install epel-release
# yum -y install xrdp

Start xrdp and enable it at boot:

# systemctl start xrdp
# systemctl enable xrdp

Open the Remote Desktop client (Win+R → mstsc) and connect. If the connection fails, adjust the firewall:

# systemctl stop firewalld   // disable firewall
# firewall-cmd --permanent --zone=public --add-port=3389/tcp
# firewall-cmd --reload

After opening port 3389 or disabling the firewall, reconnect, enter the Linux username and password, and the remote desktop session starts successfully.

2. Linux Remote Desktop to Windows

Preparation steps: ensure the Linux host has GNOME installed, enable Remote Desktop on the Windows machine, and allow the RDP port (3389) through the Windows firewall or disable the firewall.

On the Linux side, launch the Remote Desktop Viewer, choose the RDP protocol, enter the Windows host IP, and click Connect.

Enter the Windows username and password; after successful authentication, the Windows desktop is displayed.