RDP

This script makes it easy to connect to RDP and provides a ThinClient experience by adding a GUI to xfreerdp2.

Requirements

All package required can easily be install by running ./rdp -i. The script relies on DNS Queries to identify the host. The host address is built like so : ${USERNAME}${DOMAIN}. Otherwise you can specify a host using -h.

As I initially wrote the script for thinclient use, I wanted to limit the amount of input required for the user while offering secured passwords.

Usage

./rdp -?
Invalid option: ?

Usage: rdp [options]

Options:

-u                     => Set Username
-p                     => Set Password
-d                     => Set Domain
-h                     => Set Host
-o                     => Specify an openVPN connection to connect
-k                     => Enable Persist Mode which relaunches the prompt whenever you close your connection
-n                     => Enable Printer Redirection
-l                     => Enable Drives Redirection
-g                     => Enable Hardware Acceleration
-v                     => Enable Debug Mode
                          Input commands sent are stored in log/rdp/
-i                     => Install Script as Binary
-r                     => Remove Installation
-m                     => Enable Multi-Monitor
-a                     => Set Alternate Port

How To

Update the script

First update the local repository using:

git pull origin main

And update the bin file using

./rdp -r && ./rdp -i

Add a desktop shortcut

From the repository directory execute:

cp rdp.desktop ~/rdp.desktop

Then you can edit the parameters (Exec=rdp -mkl) of the command using nano.

Run the script when a X session is started

Create a script in /etc/X11/Xsession.d.

/etc/X11/Xsession.d/startup-local

#!/bin/sh
rdp -mkld domain.fqdn

And make it executable.

chmod 755 /etc/X11/Xsession.d/startup-local

*To run only when a specific user login, you will need to check the desktop environment documentation.

Run the script when a LXDE session is started (Pi4)

mkdir ~/.config/autostart
cp rdp.desktop ~/.config/autostart/rdp.desktop

Then you can edit the parameters (Exec=lxterminal -e "rdp -mklng") of the command using nano.

Changlelog

[2021-02-11] - Added a switch to turn on Graphic Hardware Acceleration
[2021-02-11] - Added a switch to turn on printer redirection
[2021-02-11] - Added a switch to turn on storage drive redirection
[2021-02-11] - Added a DNS lookup to convert a dns entry to the corresponding IP for better reliability.
[2021-02-11] - Added VPN option to start a vpn connection before attempting to connect to the rdp session.
[2020-10-01] - Added a persist switch that will specify the script to run in a loop. So whenever a session is closed, the script prompts the GUI again and launches the connection. If the host port is closed, the script will output an error in a dialog box. The OK button will continue the loop while the close button will stop it.
[2020-10-01] - Added a host switch if you want to specify a host.
[2020-10-01] - Added a some tutorials to setup your thinclient to use the script.
[2020-10-01] - Added a drive redirection switch to enable drive redirections such as USB drives.
[2020-10-01] - Added the output of xfreerdp whenever -v is used
[2020-10-01] - Added a desktop file to copy on the client's Desktop

Rdp

Install / Use

README

RDP