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Remote Desktop

Remote Desktop allows you to connect to Windows servers through RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Manage all your RDP connections alongside SSH hosts in a single application.

Overview​

What is Remote Desktop? RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) allows you to connect to and control Windows servers remotely, as if you were sitting in front of the machine.

Common use cases:

  • Manage Windows servers
  • Remote administration
  • Desktop support
  • Running Windows-only applications

Getting Started​

Accessing Remote Desktop Tab​

  1. Open the Xermius app
  2. Navigate to the Remote Desktop tab in the sidebar

Adding an RDP Connection​

  1. Click Add button
  2. Fill in connection details:
FieldDescriptionRequired
NameDisplay name for connectionYes
HostIP address or hostname of Windows serverYes
PortRDP port (default: 3389)No
UsernameWindows usernameYes
PasswordWindows passwordNo
DomainWindows domain (if applicable)No
  1. Click Save

Connecting​

How to Connect​

  1. Click on an RDP connection in the list
  2. Connection opens in new tab or window
  3. Enter password if prompted

Connection Status​

StatusDescription
AvailableServer is online and can be connected to
ConnectingConnection in progress
ConnectedSuccessfully connected
OfflineServer not available

Checking Availability​

Click Refresh to check if servers are online.

Connection Settings​

Display Settings​

SettingDescription
ResolutionScreen resolution (e.g., 1920x1080)
Full ScreenExpand to full screen
Color Depth16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit

Performance Settings​

SettingDescription
BandwidthAuto-detect or manual
Bitmap CachingCache images for better performance
Desktop CompositionEnable Aero effects

Security Settings​

SettingDescription
Network Level AuthenticationRequire NLA (recommended)
TLS SecurityUse TLS encryption
RDP SecurityLegacy RDP encryption

Sessions​

Active Sessions​

View all active RDP sessions:

  • Connection name
  • Duration
  • Status

Disconnecting a Session​

  1. Click on active session
  2. Choose Disconnect
  3. Session is terminated

Reconnecting​

Click on a disconnected session to reconnect.

Managing Connections​

Edit Connection​

  1. Right-click on connection
  2. Select Edit
  3. Update details
  4. Click Save

Duplicate Connection​

  1. Right-click on connection
  2. Select Duplicate
  3. Creates copy with "(Copy)" suffix
  4. Edit as needed

Delete Connection​

  1. Right-click on connection
  2. Select Delete
  3. Confirm deletion

Organizing with Groups​

Create groups to organize RDP connections:

  1. Create a new group
  2. Drag connections into group
  3. Collapse/expand groups as needed

Security​

Storing Password​

OptionDescription
NeverAlways enter password manually
Session OnlyRemember for current session
AlwaysStore encrypted in keychain

Network Level Authentication (NLA)​

What is NLA? NLA requires users to authenticate before the RDP session is established. This is a recommended security feature.

Enabling NLA:

  1. Edit connection
  2. Toggle Network Level Authentication
  3. Save

Keychain Integration​

Passwords are encrypted and stored in the system keychain:

  • Not stored in plain text
  • OS-level encryption
  • Access control via user account

Troubleshooting​

Connection Failed​

Common causes:

  1. Server offline or not reachable
  2. Wrong hostname or IP
  3. RDP port blocked by firewall
  4. Wrong credentials

Solutions:

  1. Ping server to verify network connectivity
  2. Check firewall rules
  3. Verify credentials
  4. Check RDP service is running on server

Authentication Failed​

  1. Verify username/password is correct
  2. Check domain name if using domain account
  3. Ensure account is not disabled or locked out
  4. Check "Smart Card" auth if required

Black Screen​

Cause: Server may be in sleep mode or display issue

Solution:

  1. Press Ctrl + Alt + End (equivalent to Ctrl+Alt+Delete in RDP)
  2. Or restart server via other means

Slow Performance​

  1. Reduce color depth (16-bit instead of 32-bit)
  2. Disable desktop composition
  3. Lower resolution
  4. Enable bitmap caching
  5. Check network bandwidth

Connection Drops​

  1. Check network stability
  2. Increase timeout settings
  3. Disable auto-reconnect if causing issues
  4. Check for IP conflicts

Keyboard Shortcuts​

ShortcutAction
Ctrl + Alt + EndSend Ctrl+Alt+Delete
Alt + TabSwitch between windows (local)
Ctrl + Alt + HomeSend Alt+Tab
Alt + Page Up/DownSwitch between RDP windows
Ctrl + Alt + BreakToggle full screen

Best Practices​

Security​

  1. Use NLA: Always enable Network Level Authentication
  2. Strong passwords: Use complex passwords for RDP accounts
  3. Limit users: Only grant access to users who need it
  4. Update regularly: Keep Windows servers updated

Performance​

  1. Close sessions: Always disconnect instead of just closing window
  2. Limit concurrent sessions: Avoid too many simultaneous connections
  3. Use groups: Organize connections by environment (prod/staging/dev)

Next Steps​