How to Set Up Remote Desktop Access on Pardus Linux

For most Pardus users, the simplest way to reach a desktop from another network is to install RustDesk on the Pardus computer and on the device you will use to control it. Install the official Debian-format package, share the Pardus computer’s ID for a one-time session, and use a permanent password only if you need unattended access. RustDesk avoids the router port-forwarding normally associated with direct RDP access.

This guide applies to Pardus desktop editions such as XFCE and GNOME. Pardus is Debian-based, so the RustDesk project recommends its .deb package for Debian-based systems. The official Pardus download page currently lists Pardus 25.2; Pardus 23 remains in the official version table as supported through the third quarter of 2027. Interface labels can differ by release and desktop. The screen images below are illustrative interface mockups, not captures from a tested Pardus computer.

Choose the right kind of remote access

Use RustDesk when you want to view or control the existing Pardus desktop from Windows, macOS, Linux, or a mobile device, including when the two devices are on different networks. It is suitable for helping a family member, checking a home computer while traveling, or providing supervised support.

If you specifically need a Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client to connect to Pardus, xrdp is a separate option. It provides an RDP-compatible graphical login, but requires its own setup and network planning. Keep RDP limited to a trusted local network or a VPN; do not expose its listening port directly to the public internet. This article uses RustDesk for the main walkthrough because it avoids making a public inbound RDP rule.

Before you begin

• Confirm you can sign in to the Pardus desktop and install software with an administrator password.
• Check whether the system is Pardus 23 or Pardus 25 and whether it uses XFCE or GNOME. Use the current RustDesk download page and current package; avoid old files from download mirrors or third-party repackaging sites.
• Install RustDesk on both the Pardus host (the computer being accessed) and the client (the computer you will use to connect).
• For a computer that must be reachable after logout or reboot, test its Linux display-server and service behavior before relying on it. RustDesk documents Wayland support as experimental and says its login-screen access requires X11.

Set up RustDesk on Pardus

1. Download the Debian package

On the Pardus computer, open the official RustDesk download page. Select Linux, then choose the .deb package that matches the computer’s architecture. Most recent desktop PCs use 64-bit x86, but check rather than assume if the machine is older or ARM-based. Save the package to Downloads. The Linux documentation identifies .deb as the native choice for Debian-based distributions.

2. Install the package

Open a terminal and change to the folder where the file was saved, commonly Downloads:

cd ~/Downloads
sudo apt install ./rustdesk-<version>.deb

Replace the example filename with the exact downloaded filename; the angle-bracket text is a placeholder. Enter your Pardus administrator password when prompted. Using apt install with the local package lets apt resolve package dependencies. You can also open the downloaded package in the Pardus software installer if it offers a local-package installation option.

If apt reports that the file cannot be found, check the filename and current folder with ls. If it reports an unsupported architecture or unmet dependency, download the correct current package and update Pardus through its normal updater before retrying. Do not bypass package checks by downloading a random build.

3. Open RustDesk and check readiness

Launch RustDesk from the application menu. On the Pardus computer, locate its ID and one-time password in the main window. Keep these private and send them only to the person you intend to connect. On GNOME with Wayland, the desktop may request permission to share or capture the screen; allow it only for a session you initiated and understand. Permission dialogs and their timing vary across desktop environments and versions.

4. Connect from your other device

Install the RustDesk client on the controlling device using RustDesk’s official client download for its operating system. Enter the Pardus host’s ID in the remote ID field and start the connection. For a one-time support session, have the person at the Pardus computer read the current one-time password and approve the incoming request. Confirm that mouse, keyboard, display scaling, and clipboard behavior work as expected. A connection that works only while someone is present is a good fit for supervised support, but not for an unattended workstation.

5. Configure unattended access only if needed

To reach your own computer without someone accepting each request, open RustDesk’s menu and review Settings > Security. Set a unique, strong permanent password and restrict which remote-control and file-transfer permissions are enabled. Do not reuse an email, banking, or system-login password. Share the password through a secure channel only with the intended user.

Then check Settings > General for service control and make sure the RustDesk service is installed and running if you expect connections when no desktop user has launched the app. Menu wording can vary by client version. Reboot and test from another device before relying on unattended access. Linux desktop permissions and the display server can still prevent access to the login screen: RustDesk currently documents Wayland support as experimental and says login-screen access requires X11. Do not assume a saved password alone guarantees access before login.

6. Keep the network exposure narrow

For access from outside your home or office, do not forward the RDP port or other remote-desktop ports from your router to Pardus. RustDesk clients can use RustDesk’s public rendezvous and relay services by default; organizations that need to control their own infrastructure can review the official self-hosting documentation and operate a RustDesk server. A VPN is another option when your organization already manages one. Keep Pardus, RustDesk, and the controlling device updated, and remove unattended access when you no longer need it.

Check that the setup works

Run one planned test from the actual network you will use, such as a phone hotspot if you expect to connect while away from home. The setup is ready when the client finds the correct Pardus computer, the intended screen appears, input responds, and the connection closes cleanly. For unattended access, also test after signing out and after reboot; if either test fails, treat the computer as supervised-only until you resolve the display-server or service limitation.

• ID not found: confirm both computers have internet access, the ID was copied correctly, and any organization firewall permits the approved RustDesk traffic.
• Black screen or missing input: check desktop screen-capture and accessibility permissions, then test again in an active session. Wayland behavior may differ from X11.
• Works before logout but not after reboot: verify service control and startup behavior. On Wayland, login-screen access is not supported according to RustDesk’s Linux documentation.
• Install error: check that the package is a current Debian-format build for your processor architecture and install it from the folder where it was downloaded.

When xrdp is a better fit

Choose xrdp when your workflow requires a standards-based RDP client or when your IT team already manages RDP through a VPN and firewall. The xrdp project describes it as an open-source RDP server that accepts connections from a range of RDP clients. Installation and desktop-session setup depend on the Pardus release and desktop; follow current project and distribution documentation and test locally before enabling remote reachability. For simple cross-network access to the existing desktop, RustDesk is usually the more direct starting point.

Official references

• Pardus official downloads and editions
• Pardus version management and support dates
• RustDesk Linux installation and display-server notes
• RustDesk client installation, usage, and settings
• xrdp project overview

Release and compatibility details checked against the official pages on October 7, 2026. Package names, screens, and supported behavior can change; use the current release information before installing.