Introduction

The RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) allows you to take control of a Windows server or PC remotely, as if you were physically in front of the screen. It is the standard method for managing a Windows server, a VPS, or a dedicated server.

What is RDP?

RDP is a protocol developed by Microsoft that allows you to:

Control a Windows computer remotely
View the desktop as if you were there
Transfer files between your PC and the server
Use the keyboard and mouse remotely
Share the clipboard (copy/paste)

Use Cases

Administration of Windows servers
Management of Windows VPS
Remote work
Technical support
Hosting game servers (Minecraft, etc.)

Prerequisites

Necessary Information

Before connecting, you need to have:

Information	Description	Example
IP Address	Public IP of the server	`185.234.72.100`
RDP Port	Default 3389	`3389`
Username	Windows account	`Administrator`
Password	Account password	`YourPassword`

💡 This information is usually provided by your hosting provider upon server delivery.

Preliminary Checks

Make sure that:

✅ The Windows server is powered on and accessible
✅ Remote Desktop is enabled on the server
✅ Port 3389 (or custom port) is open in the firewall
✅ Your internet connection is working

Connecting from Windows

Windows natively includes an RDP client called "Remote Desktop Connection".

Method 1: Via Windows Search (Quick)

Step 1: Open the application

1. Press the Windows key
2. Type "Remote Desktop" or "RDP" or "mstsc"
3. Click on "Remote Desktop Connection"

Or use the keyboard shortcut:

Windows + R → type "mstsc" → Enter

Step 2: Enter the information

1. In the "Computer" field, enter the server's IP address
   Example: 185.234.72.100
   
2. (Optional) Click on "Show Options" for more settings

3. Click on "Connect"

Step 3: Authenticate

1. Enter the username: Administrator
2. Enter the password provided by your hosting provider
3. Check "Remember my credentials" (optional)
4. Click on "OK"

Step 4: Accept the certificate

A certificate warning may appear:
"The identity of the remote computer cannot be verified"

→ Check "Don't ask me again for connections to this computer"
→ Click "Yes"

🎉 You are connected! The Windows desktop of the server is displayed.

Method 2: With Custom Port

If the RDP port has been changed (recommended for security):

In the "Computer" field, enter:
185.234.72.100:3390

Format: IP:PORT

Method 3: Create a Connection Shortcut

To connect more quickly in the future:

Step 1: Configure the connection

1. Open mstsc (Remote Desktop Connection)
2. Click on "Show Options"
3. Fill in:
   - Computer: 185.234.72.100
   - Username: Administrator
4. "Display" tab: choose the resolution
5. "Local Resources" tab: configure sound, keyboard

Step 2: Save

1. Click on "Save As..."
2. Choose a location (Desktop for example)
3. Name the file: "My Server.rdp"
4. Click on "Save"

Double-click this .rdp file to connect instantly.

Recommended Windows Settings

Tab	Setting	Recommendation
General	Username	Pre-fill to save time
Display	Resolution	Full screen or according to your screen
Display	Colors	Optimal quality (32 bits)
Local Resources	Sound	Play on this computer
Local Resources	Keyboard	On the remote computer
Local Resources	Devices	Enable clipboard
Experience	Connection	Automatically detect

Connecting from macOS

macOS does not have a native RDP client. You need to install Microsoft Remote Desktop.

Installing Microsoft Remote Desktop

Method 1: App Store (Recommended)

1. Open the App Store
2. Search for "Microsoft Remote Desktop"
3. Click on "Get" then "Install"
4. Open the application once installed

Method 2: Direct Download

Download from: Microsoft Remote Desktop

Configuring the Connection

Step 1: Add a PC

1. Open Microsoft Remote Desktop
2. Click on the "+" button at the top
3. Select "Add PC"

Step 2: Configure

PC name: 185.234.72.100
User account: Click → "Add User Account"
   - Username: Administrator
   - Password: YourPassword
Friendly name: My Server (optional)

Step 3: Advanced settings (optional)

Click on "Show More":
- Gateway: None (unless required)
- Sound: Play on this computer
- Swap mouse buttons: No
- Admin mode: Yes (for servers)

Step 4: Connect

1. Double-click on the created connection
2. If prompted, accept the certificate
3. The Windows desktop appears

Keyboard Shortcuts macOS → Windows

Windows Action	Mac Shortcut
Ctrl + C	⌘ + C (then Ctrl+V on Windows)
Ctrl + Alt + Del	Fn + ⌘ + ⌫
Alt + Tab	⌘ + Tab (in RDP)
Windows Key	Fn + F1

Connecting from Linux

Several RDP clients are available on Linux.

Option 1: Remmina (Recommended)

Remmina is the most complete and popular client on Linux.

Installation:

# Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install remmina remmina-plugin-rdp

# Fedora
sudo dnf install remmina remmina-plugins-rdp

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S remmina freerdp

Configuration:

1. Open Remmina
2. Click on "+" to create a connection
3. Fill in:
   - Name: My Server
   - Protocol: RDP - Remote Desktop Protocol
   - Server: 185.234.72.100
   - Username: Administrator
   - Password: YourPassword
   - Domain: (leave blank)
   - Resolution: Use client resolution
   - Color depth: High color (16 bpp) or more
4. Click on "Save and Connect"

Advanced Remmina settings:

Setting	Recommended Value
Network connection type	Auto-detect
Share folder	Enable to transfer files
Sound	Local
Security	Negotiate
Ignore certificate	Yes (for self-signed)

Option 2: xfreerdp (Command Line)

For advanced users who prefer the terminal.

Installation:

# Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt install freerdp2-x11

# Fedora
sudo dnf install freerdp

Basic Connection:

xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:YourPassword /v:185.234.72.100

Connection with options:

xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:YourPassword /v:185.234.72.100 \
  /size:1920x1080 \
  /bpp:32 \
  /audio-mode:0 \
  /clipboard \
  /cert-ignore

Useful xfreerdp options:

Option	Description
`/u:USER`	Username
`/p:PASS`	Password
`/v:IP`	Server address
`/port:3389`	Port (if different from 3389)
`/size:1920x1080`	Resolution
`/f`	Full screen
`/bpp:32`	Color depth
`/clipboard`	Enable clipboard
`/sound`	Enable sound
`/cert-ignore`	Ignore certificate errors
`/drive:home,/home/user`	Share a folder

Examples:

# Full screen with sound
xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:Pass123 /v:185.234.72.100 /f /sound /clipboard

# Custom port
xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:Pass123 /v:185.234.72.100:3390

# Share a folder
xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:Pass123 /v:185.234.72.100 /drive:transfer,/home/user/Documents

Option 3: Vinagre (GNOME)

Simple client integrated into GNOME.

sudo apt install vinagre

Connecting from Mobile

Android

Application: Microsoft Remote Desktop

1. Install from the Google Play Store
2. Open the application
3. Tap on "+" → "Add PC"
4. Enter:
   - PC name: 185.234.72.100
   - User account: Add Administrator + password
5. Tap on "Save"
6. Tap on the connection to connect

Android Tips:

Use landscape mode for more comfort
Enable mouse mode for more precision
Use an external Bluetooth keyboard if available

iOS / iPadOS

Application: Microsoft Remote Desktop

1. Install from the App Store
2. Open the application
3. Tap on "+" → "Add PC"
4. Configure:
   - PC name: 185.234.72.100
   - User account: Administrator + password
5. Tap on "Save"
6. Tap on the created connection

iPad Tip: With an iPad and a keyboard, the experience is close to a PC.

Advanced Settings

File Transfer

Method 1: Clipboard

1. On your local PC: Ctrl+C on a file
2. On the remote server: Ctrl+V

⚠️ Limited to small files. Slow for large files.

Method 2: Local Drives (Recommended)

Windows:

1. Before connecting, click on "Show Options"
2. "Local Resources" tab
3. Click on "More..." in "Local devices and resources"
4. Check "Drives" → select the drives to share
5. Connect

On the server, open File Explorer. Your local drives appear under "This PC" in the format: C on YOURPC

Linux (xfreerdp):

xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:Pass /v:IP /drive:local,/home/user/share

Method 3: Drag and Drop

In Microsoft Remote Desktop (Mac/iOS), you can sometimes drag and drop files directly.

Multi-Screens

Windows:

1. Remote Desktop Connection → Show Options
2. "Display" tab
3. Check "Use all my monitors for the remote session"

Linux (xfreerdp):

xfreerdp /u:Administrator /p:Pass /v:IP /multimon

Connection Quality

Adjust according to your bandwidth:

Connection	Recommended Settings
Fiber / Very High Speed	Optimal quality, 32 bits, all effects
ADSL / Good Connection	16 bits, disable wallpaper
Slow Connection	8 bits, disable animations and themes
4G / Mobile	Low bandwidth, 16 bits

Windows - "Experience" Tab:

Desktop wallpaper
Font smoothing
Desktop composition
Window animations
Visual styles
Bitmap caching

Securing Your RDP Connection

⚠️ RDP is a prime target for hackers. Secure your access!

1. Change the Default Port

Port 3389 is constantly scanned by bots.

On the Windows server:

1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit)
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server\WinStations\RDP-Tcp
3. Double-click on "PortNumber"
4. Select "Decimal"
5. Enter a new port (e.g., 53389)
6. Click "OK"
7. Restart the server

Open the new port in the firewall:

# PowerShell (Admin)
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "RDP Custom Port" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 53389 -Action Allow

To connect:

185.234.72.100:53389

2. Use Strong Passwords

Minimum 16 characters
Uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
Never use dictionary words
Unique for each server

Example of a strong password:

Kj9#mP2$xL5@nQ8!

3. Enable Network Level Authentication (NLA)

NLA authenticates before establishing the RDP session.

1. Control Panel → System
2. Advanced system settings
3. "Remote" tab
4. Check "Allow connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with NLA"

4. Limit Connection Attempts

Configure a lockout policy:

1. Open "gpedit.msc"
2. Computer Configuration → Windows Settings → Security Settings
3. Account Policies → Account Lockout Policy
4. Configure:
   - Lockout threshold: 5 attempts
   - Lockout duration: 30 minutes
   - Reset after: 30 minutes

5. Use a VPN

The most secure method: access RDP only via VPN.

Internet → VPN → Server → RDP (port closed to the public)

6. Firewall: Restrict by IP

If you have a static IP, allow only that IP:

# Allow only your IP
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "RDP Restricted" -Direction Inbound -Protocol TCP -LocalPort 3389 -RemoteAddress 86.123.45.67 -Action Allow

# Block everything else
Set-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Remote Desktop - User Mode (TCP-In)" -Enabled False

RDP Security Checklist

Action	Priority	Done?
Change the default port	🔴 High	☐
Strong password (+16 chars)	🔴 High	☐
Enable NLA	🔴 High	☐
Lockout policy	🟡 Medium	☐
Restrict by IP	🟡 Medium	☐
Use a VPN	🟢 Ideal	☐
Rename the Administrator account	🟡 Medium	☐
Windows updates	🔴 High	☐

Troubleshooting

Common Connection Errors

"Unable to connect to the remote computer"

Possible causes:

Server is off or inaccessible

→ Check that the server is powered on (hosting panel)
→ Test a ping: ping 185.234.72.100

Port blocked by the firewall

→ Check that port 3389 is open
→ Test: telnet 185.234.72.100 3389

Incorrect IP address

→ Check the IP in your hosting client area

Remote Desktop disabled

→ Ask the hosting provider to enable RDP

"Your credentials did not work"

Solutions:

Check the exact username (case-sensitive)

Correct: Administrator
Incorrect: administrator, Admin, admin

Check the password (watch for special characters)

→ Type the password in a text editor first
→ Ensure Caps Lock is off

Try using the domain\username format
```
.Administrator
SERVER\Administrator
```

"The certificate is not valid" / "Untrusted certificate"

This is normal for servers with self-signed certificates.

1. Check that the IP is correct
2. Check "Don't ask me again for this computer"
3. Click "Yes" to continue

"Remote Desktop session has ended"

Causes:

Another active session

→ Someone else may be connected
→ Windows Server limits simultaneous sessions

Session timeout
```
→ Simply reconnect
```
Network issue
```
→ Check your internet connection
```

Black screen after connection