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BytesAgain β€Ί Skills β€Ί Remote Desktop
πŸ¦€ ClawHub

Remote Desktop

by @ivangdavila

Connect to remote desktops via RDP, VNC, and SSH X11 with secure tunneling and troubleshooting.

Versionv1.0.0
Downloads1,515
Installs3
#legal
TERMINAL
clawhub install remote-desktop

πŸ“– About This Skill

name: Remote Desktop slug: remote-desktop version: 1.0.0 homepage: https://clawic.com/skills/remote-desktop description: Connect to remote desktops via RDP, VNC, and SSH X11 with secure tunneling and troubleshooting. metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"πŸ–₯️","requires":{"bins":["ssh"]},"os":["linux","darwin","win32"]}}

Setup

On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines and help the user with their question.

When to Use

User needs remote desktop access to another machine. Agent handles protocol selection, connection commands, tunnel setup, and troubleshooting display issues.

Architecture

Config lives in ~/remote-desktop/. See memory-template.md for structure.

~/remote-desktop/
β”œβ”€β”€ memory.md         # Saved hosts, preferences
└── hosts/            # Per-host connection profiles

Quick Reference

| Topic | File | |-------|------| | Setup process | setup.md | | Memory template | memory-template.md | | Protocol details | protocols.md | | Troubleshooting | troubleshooting.md |

Core Rules

1. Protocol Selection

| Target OS | Best Protocol | Why | |-----------|---------------|-----| | Windows | RDP | Native, best performance | | Linux (desktop) | VNC or X11 | VNC for persistent, X11 for apps | | macOS | VNC (built-in) | Screen Sharing uses VNC | | Headless Linux | SSH + X11 forwarding | No desktop needed |

2. Security First

  • Always prefer SSH tunneling over direct exposure
  • Never expose RDP (3389) or VNC (5900) to internet directly
  • Use SSH keys, not passwords
  • If direct needed, use VPN or firewall rules

    • 3. Connection Commands

    RDP to Windows: 

    # xfreerdp (recommended)
xfreerdp /v:HOST /u:USER /p:PASS /size:1920x1080 /dynamic-resolution
    With SSH tunnel first
    
ssh -L 3389:localhost:3389 user@jumphost
xfreerdp /v:localhost /u:USER

    VNC: 

    # Direct (NOT recommended for internet)
vncviewer HOST:5901
    Via SSH tunnel (recommended)
    
ssh -L 5901:localhost:5901 user@HOST
vncviewer localhost:5901

    SSH X11 forwarding: 

    # Single app
ssh -X user@HOST firefox
    Trusted (faster, less secure)
    
ssh -Y user@HOST

    4. Port Defaults

    | Protocol | Default Port | Display :0 | Display :1 | |----------|--------------|------------|------------| | RDP | 3389 | 3389 | - | | VNC | 5900 | 5900 | 5901 | | SSH | 22 | - | - | | NoMachine | 4000 | 4000 | - |

    5. Tunnel Everything

    For any remote desktop over internet: 
    # Local port forward
ssh -L LOCAL_PORT:TARGET:REMOTE_PORT user@JUMPHOST
    Example: RDP via jumphost
    
ssh -L 13389:windows-pc:3389 user@jumphost
xfreerdp /v:localhost:13389 /u:USER

    6. Clipboard and Files

    | Tool | Clipboard | File Transfer | |------|-----------|---------------| | xfreerdp | /clipboard flag | /drive:share,/path | | vncviewer | Usually works | Separate SCP/SFTP | | SSH X11 | Needs xclip setup | SCP/SFTP |

    7. Save Working Configs (with consent)

    When a connection works, ask "Want me to save this config for next time?" If yes, save to ~/remote-desktop/hosts/: 
    # hostname.md
host: 192.168.1.50
protocol: rdp
user: admin
tunnel: ssh user@jumphost -L 3389:192.168.1.50:3389
resolution: 1920x1080
notes: Windows 11 dev machine
    Never save passwords β€” only hostnames, users, and connection flags.

    Common Traps

  • Black screen after VNC connect β†’ Display manager not running or wrong display number. Try :1 instead of :0, or start a VNC server: vncserver :1
  • RDP disconnects immediately β†’ Check Network Level Authentication (NLA) settings, or add /sec:tls to xfreerdp
  • X11 forwarding not working β†’ Ensure X11Forwarding yes in server's /etc/ssh/sshd_config and ForwardX11 yes in client config
  • Slow VNC performance β†’ Use tighter encodings: vncviewer -encoding tight HOST:1
  • "Connection refused" β†’ Service not running, firewall blocking, or wrong port. Check with ss -tlnp | grep PORT
  • Clipboard not syncing β†’ xfreerdp needs /clipboard, VNC needs vncconfig running

    • Security & Privacy

    Data that stays local:

  • Host configurations in ~/remote-desktop/ (with user consent)
  • Connection preferences

    • This skill does NOT:

  • Store passwords in plain text β€” use SSH keys or system keyring
  • Auto-save configs without asking first
  • Connect to hosts without explicit user command
  • Make any network requests itself (you run the commands)
  • Access any memory outside ~/remote-desktop/

    • Before saving a host profile: Always ask "Want me to save this config for next time?"

    Scope

    This skill ONLY:

  • Provides commands for remote desktop connections
  • Helps troubleshoot display and connection issues
  • Saves host profiles locally

    • This skill NEVER:

  • Stores credentials in plain text
  • Auto-connects to anything
  • Modifies SSH or system configs without explicit instruction

    • Related Skills

    Install with clawhub install if user confirms:
  • linux β€” Linux system administration
  • server β€” Server setup and management
  • network β€” Network configuration and debugging
  • sysadmin β€” System administration tasks

    • Feedback

  • If useful: clawhub star remote-desktop
  • Stay updated: clawhub sync

    • ⚑ When to Use

    User needs remote desktop access to another machine. Agent handles protocol selection, connection commands, tunnel setup, and troubleshooting display issues.

    βš™οΈ Configuration

    On first use, read setup.md for integration guidelines and help the user with their question.