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Connect to a Linux device

Learn how to access a Linux computer over Meshnet from Windows, macOS, or Linux.
Depending on your purpose, you can choose among the following methods to remotely connect to your Linux computer over Meshnet:
  • GUI-based remote connection using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Virtual Network Connection (VNC). This method is described further in this article.
  • Text-based remote connection using Secure Shell (SSH). For instructions on this method, see the How to access remote systems over Meshnet using SSH article.

Before you begin

  • Ensure that your remote PC and the device you want to use to access it are linked over Meshnet.
  • Look up the Nord name or Meshnet IP address of the computer you're connecting to by entering the following command in the terminal:
    nordvpn meshnet peer list
Note
For the instructions provided in this guide, Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS is used as an example.

Log in to Linux via a GUI-based connection

A GUI-based remote connection is an appropriate choice if you need to interact with the remote system in a way that is similar to interacting with a local system.

Enable remote access on your PC

  1. 1.
    Do one of the following:
    • Click the Activities button in the upper-left corner of the screen, start typing sharing, and then select Sharing from the results list.
    • Open the terminal and enter the gnome-control-center sharing command.
  2. 2.
    Turn on the Sharing toggle in the upper-right corner of the window.
  3. 3.
    Click Remote desktop.
  4. 4.
    Turn on the Remote desktop toggle to allow remote connections to this computer.
  5. 5.
    Turn on the Remote control toggle to allow remote connections to control the desktop.
Also, under Authentication, make note of the username and password required to access this computer remotely. You can change the password generated by the app if you wish.
Looking up the username and password of the remote computer
​

Install a remote desktop client

Once you have enabled remote access and have your remote desktop credentials, you can connect to your PC using a remote desktop client.
From Linux
From macOS
From Windows
You can use Remmina to work remotely with Linux resources, apps, and desktops from another Linux device. Remmina is a free remote desktop client for Linux, available in the default repositories of many Linux distributions.
Note
The instructions below apply primarily to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS or above, but if you use a different distribution of Linux, the procedure should remain similar.

​

If you don't have Remmina installed on your system, install it using one of the methods described below.
Method 1: Install Remmina from the terminal
  1. 1.
    Open the terminal.
  2. 2.
    Update the package manager's list of available packages by running the following command:
    sudo apt update
    ​
  3. 3.
    Install Remmina by entering this command:
    sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-vlc
    ​
Method 2: Install Remmina from Ubuntu Software
  1. 1.
    Open the Ubuntu Software app.
  2. 2.
    In the search bar, enter remmina and select the matching result.
    Entering Remmina in the search bar of Ubuntu Software
  3. 3.
    Click Install.

​

Set up a remote connection

  1. 1.
    Open the Remmina app by going to Show applications and searching for remmina.
  2. 2.
    Click the New connection profile
     button in the upper-left corner of the application window.
  3. 3.
    Under Basic, enter the information to create a reusable connection.
    • Server: the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.
    • Username: your remote PC account name that you recorded earlier.
    • Password: the password for the specified username.
      Filling in the Server, Username and Password boxes
  4. 4.
    Click Save.
  5. 5.
    Accept the certificate presented by the server to verify that you trust the computer you are trying to access.
The new connection will appear in the Remmina window. You can double-click it whenever you want to initiate a remote desktop session.
To connect from a Mac to a Linux device, you can use the Microsoft Remote Desktop client, available for free from the Mac App Store.
Despite being originally designed to enable connections between Windows systems, now it can be used to connect to a wide range of devices.

Set up a remote connection

After you've installed the client, it's time to add a PC:
  1. 1.
    Open Microsoft Remote Desktop, click the plus (+) button, and select Add PC.
  2. 2.
    In the PC name box, type either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.
    Entering the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you're accessing
  3. 3.
    Select Add user account from the User account dropdown list.
  4. 4.
    In the dialog that appears, enter your credentials for the remote computer to save for use with this connection.
    • Username: your remote PC account name you recorded earlier
    • Password: the password for the specified username
      ​
      Entering your remote PC username and password
  5. 5.
    Optionally, you can give a nickname to your connection in the Friendly name box. It is a way to easily identify your Remote Desktop connections.
  6. 6.
    Click Add to save changes, and then click Add again.

Access your remote PC

  1. 1.
    Double-click the saved connection that you added.
  2. 2.
    You may receive a warning indicating that the digital certificate of the computer you're trying to access cannot be verified. When connecting to a trusted computer, such as one on your Meshnet, click Continue.
Tip
If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, click Show certificate, and then select the Always trust checkbox.
​
You should now be able to access and control your PC remotely.
To connect from a Windows computer to a Linux device, you can use the Microsoft Remote Desktop client available for free from the Microsoft Store.
While Microsoft Remote Desktop was originally developed to allow connections between two Windows systems, now it can be used to connect to a wide range of devices.
Tip
Alternatively, you can use the built-in Remote Desktop client on Windows, which you can find by typing Remote Desktop Connection in the search box on the taskbar.
​

Set up a remote connection

  1. 1.
    Open the Remote Desktop app, click the Add button, and select PCs.
  2. 2.
    In the PC name field, type either the Nord name or Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.
    Entering the Meshnet IP of the PC you want to access.
    ​
  3. 3.
    Click the plus (+) button to add a user account.
  4. 4.
    Enter your credentials for the remote computer to save for use with this connection.
    • Username: your remote PC account name you recorded earlier
    • Password: the password for the specified username
      Entering your remote PC username and password
      ​
  5. 5.
    Optionally, you can give a nickname to your connection in the Display name field. It is a way to easily identify your Remote Desktop connections.
  6. 6.
    Click Save.

Access your remote PC

  1. 1.
    Under Saved PCs, double-click the connection that you added.
    Pointing to the added connection
  2. 2.
    You may receive a warning message indicating that it might not be safe to connect to this computer. When connecting to a trusted computer, such as one on your Meshnet, click Connect anyway.
​
Tip
If you don't want to see this dialog in the future, select the Don't ask about this certificate again checkbox.
​
You should now be able to access and control your PC remotely.

See also

Previous
Connect to a macOS device
Next
How to access remote systems over Meshnet using SSH
Last modified 11d ago
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