Remote Desktop Frequently Asked Questions

Complete FAQ for the Windows Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)

Remote Desktop Server Software

Remote desktop servers for Windows, HTML5, and Linux/Unix operating systems.

You can find information about RDP clients at the Remote Desktop Clients topic.

Windows

All Windows server versions, as well as some desktop versions of Windows (2000 Pro, XP Pro, XP Media Center Edition (MCE), Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate) have integrated remote desktop servers.

HTML 5 (browser based)

With the advent of HTML5 (specifically WebSockets and the <canvas> element), it became possible to create browser based remote desktop clients that run without requiring a browser plugin. These are installable gateway server programs that deliver an HTML5 experience to any compliant browser without requiring a plugin to be installed.

In case you're interested in the inner workings of HTML5 clients, here's an article on the topic: How HTML5 remote desktop clients work

Linux/Unix

There is also an open source Remote Desktop server: