Linux @lemmy.ml lemmyvore @feddit.nl 1y ago

Easy way to remote share the desktop?

I need a very simple method for non-advanced users to share each other's screen explicitly when they need help. They're running XFCE on Manjaro and the machines involved are using Tailscale. Edit: SSH access is also available, with key authentication.

I need something super simple because they are remote from me and from each other and any graphical setup will have to be assisted sight-unseen over phone. So ideally just (1) install something (which I can do for them over SSH), (2) pick something from the Applications menu and maybe (3) press a big "START" button.

It's also ok-ish if the remote capability is present all the time and I can connect without their explicit permission, but you can see why it would be best if they did something to enable it...

I've been looking for a solution but all I find is stuff that's way too complicated OR starts a new desktop session instead of showing the current one.

Edited: to clarify I'm not the one who will be remoting-in and to mention SSH is available.

TIA

24 comments

Rustdesk, I use it for work
- +1. I use it to help non-tech relatives. Apparently works on different OSes, including Android.
  Install, setup password, create icon on desktop and name it "Help me" - Done.
Give Rustdesk a shot. Haven't used myself, but have heard good things about it.
- Rustdesk looks almost perfect, unfortunately they mandate using a complex password and the people who would be using this have trouble typing complex passwords. And complex passwords would not be necessary anyway with direct IP connection over Tailscale. Looks like they don't intend to relax these requirements. Such a pity. 🙁
  
  You can make simple password and you can also save the password so no need to retype. Anydesk can also be used with no password, the other side have to press accept. Probably rustdesk can do that as well, but didnt try
  
  You can set permanent passwords, that you can define yourself. Something like "Password1" shouldn't be too hard for most people.
  
  EDIT: Also, now that I think about it, in your use case you would be the one entering the password. So your comment makes no sense...
  
  I have to be honest - its a foss software, so make use of the fact that its a foss.
DW Service! Set it up once and then the client doesn’t even need to type a password to share their screen as you can log into their computer remotely to help out. Open source as well.
Does it seem like VNC would fit your use case? TigerVNC is cross platform and reliable.
Not open source, but AnyDesk is another option that does exactly what you want.

There was a Flatpak, but the maintainer quit, so, you'll probably have to install it directly from their official site.

Anyway, RustDesk, as mentioned by other comment, is essentially the open source alternative to AnyDesk, so maybe look into that first.
x11vnc -find will find the first X desktop session and start a server on the first available port starting at 5900. By default, it'll accept a single connection from any address. The server stops when the client disconnects unless the -forever option is set.

You can send the user a script with all required options already set, or start it remotely through SSH.
Another option that’s pretty much perfect as long as you don’t need to provide remote support for macs is Remotely (https://github.com/immense/Remotely). You can selfhost it and it works kind of like teamviewer, so pretty simple from the client standpoint.
This seems very suspicious
- Just tech support, a remote log login works be suspicious. My kids share screens all the time.
nextcloud talk
I think you can screen share with discord.
Honestly it's simple things like this that keep people from using Linux, myself included. I even run some servers on Linux and it's always a struggle to get anything done.
- Pretty sure most people on windows do remote screen sharing via teamviewer or anydesk or discord. All of which exist for Linux.
- Learn to setup headless servers :-)
  
  I don't ever do anything else, even though I could easily use graphical remote desks too.

24 comments