All the Windows-based nodes at CirrusGrid provide the embedded Remote Desktop Protocol support, which allows you to connect to the virtual desktop of your Windows machine and perform any required server configurations through it.
In order to ensure the maximum convenience while using the Windows hosting services, our platform is equipped with the integrated RDP tool – Guacamole. It represents a clientless remote desktop gateway, which is run from within the web-browser by virtue of HTML5, and does not require any additional plugins or client software installed.
Beside this default connection scenario, you can also use your preferred local remote desktop client. So, below we’ll describe both ways of the remote desktop connections’ establishment in more details:
Note: Due to the specifics of implementation, the amount of concurrent connections to a single node is limited to two accounts. Herewith, each account can only be used by one user at one time.
RDP Connection via Guacamole #
The required workflow for accessing the server’s desktop is similar for all Windows-based nodes. For instant access just after the node’s creation, you can use the direct one-time Guacamole link in the received email. Otherwise, the required operations should be performed through the dashboard.
Let’s consider it on the example of the IIS application server.
1. To access Guacamole, click on the Open in browser point inside the expandable Remote desktop list next to the IIS 8, MSSQL 2012 or Windows VPS node.
2. After that, you’ll be redirected to the Guacamole panel, where you are already logged in.
On the page itself, you’ll see two sections: Recent Connections and All Connections. The first one shows the most recent of your connections (if there are any) and the second – a list of all available connections for the current instance. Simply choose the required one and you’ll be redirected to the appropriate desktop.
Note: that application server, database and VPS connections are shown and accessed separately, thus, for example, you won’t see MSSQL and VPS desktop connection links if accessing Guacamole through IIS server, as well as nodes from other environments.
3. Another option is to select Open in Browser for a separate node and in such a way, directly connect to a corresponding desktop, skipping the step of node selection.
Beside that, in the same menu you can find:
- Reset RDP password option
- Info with short information on establishing the RDP connection via local client
- link for establishing the RDP connection via your local client.
4. Once a connection to the remote desktop is established, you’ll see the Server Manager window opened.
Now you can start managing your server.
RDP Connection via Local Client #
In case you prefer to work with a local remote desktop client, you’ll need to use the credentials from the email notification, sent to you during the corresponding environment creation. The tools you may want to use, are: Remote desktop (for Windows), KRDC, Remina or RDesktop (for Linux), Microsoft Remote Desktop (for Mac OS X).
And below we’ll describe the examples of working with the most common RDP clients for Windows and UNIX-based operating systems.
For Windows #
1. Windows built-in RDP client is named Remote Desktop Connection and can be easily accessed through the Start menu.
2. In the opened dialog window, specify the connection URL for RDP access, which can be found in the received email or at the dashboard (by selecting the Open in Browser button next to the required node), and click on Connect.
3. The next step is passing the server authentication – use credentials from the same email for that. You can also put a tick to the checkbox below the form to remember your credentials. Select OK.
4. In some cases, you may need to additionally confirm you really want to connect to a machine with the non-trusted certificate (click Yes for that).
5. Thats all! A remote desktop will be opened in a new window, thus maximize it for easier work and start configuring your server according to your needs.
For Linux/MacOS/FreeBSD #
We’ve chosen the rdesktop utility as an example of RD client. If you haven’t got this tool installed at your local computer, get it using the appropriate command according to your OS package manager (e.g. yum -y install rdesktop or sudo apt-get install rdesktop).
Then open your terminal emulator and follow the next steps:
1. The easiest way to connect to the remote desktop is to execute the next command:
rdesktop {access_url}
where {access_url} is a connection URL for RDP access (can be seen at the dashboard or inside the received email), specified without the protocol-defining part.
Warning: An environment with the required server should have the Running status, otherwise you’ll receive the Unable to connect error.
2. In the opened window you’ll need to log in with the credentials from the same email.
Note: Another way is to specify your login and password directly in the connection string:
rdesktop -u {username} -p {password} {access_url}
In such a way, you’ll bypass the login screen and will access the desktop immediately.
3. Once the authentication is done, you’ll see the remote virtual desktop of the required node opened.
Now you can start configuring your server using the in-built Server Manager.
