Connect to a Windows Terminal Server from Linux


There are a number of reasons to have to connect to a Windows Terminal Server machine. Either you telecommute, you administer remotely, you work on the go, or you use Linux and have to use a Windows app for company business. No matter the reason, you have to be able to connect. From the Windows operating system there is a built-in application for making this connection. But what aboutLinux? How do you make this connection from within the open source operating system? Simple.
There are a number of good Linux terminal server clients available. In this article I will demonstrate how you connect to your server with the help of two of them: tsclient and krdc.
tsclient
What most people like about tsclient is that is very closely resembles the Microsoft tool that handles the same task. So there is already a level of familiarity to the application. But before you can use it, you have to install it. This is simple, just follow these steps:

  1. Open your package management system.
  2. Search for “tsclient” (no quotes).
  3. Mark tsclient for installation.
  4. Click Apply to install.
Figure 1
That’s it. Once tsclient is installed you will find the menuentry in Applications > Internet or you can run the command tsclient from the run dialog (hit <Alt>F2) or a terminal window. When the client opens you will notice a very familiar interface (see Figure 1). The creator did this so that users would be comfortable with the application right away.
To make a basic connection with tsclient all you have to do is configure the following:
  • Computer: The address of the computer you need to connect with.
  • Protocol: Most likely you will be using RDP.
  • Username: You MIGHT have to use the DOMAIN\USERNAME configuration for your username. Otherwise just enter the username.
  • Password: Your user password.
That’s it. When the connection is made you will find yourself happily logged into MicrosoftTerminal Server.
KRCD
This tool is, as you would expect, is a KDE application. It is just as easy to use as tsclient, but it does have a different interface. And, of course, KRCD does not come pre-installed on your KDEdesktop. To install follow these steps:
  1. Open up your package management system (software installation application).
  2. Search for “krcd” (no quotes).
  3. Mark KRCD for installation.
  4. Click Apply to install.
That’s it. You will now find KRCD in your Applications > Internet menu labeled “Remote Desktop Client”.
Figure 2
When you fire up KRDC the main window is a client, user-friendly tool (see Figure 2). To connect to your Terminal Server follow these steps:
  1. Click “Connect to a Windows Remote Desktop”.
  2. Enter the address of your server in the Remote desktop bar (at the top of the window).
  3. Set any necessary configuration option in the resulting window and click OK.
  4. Enter username (you might have to use DOMAIN\USERNAME).
  5. If you have set up the KDE Wallet, enter your Wallet password.
  6. Enter the password for your user account on the Terminal Server.
That’s it. You should now be logged into your terminal server.
Final thoughts
You don’t have to go without your Windows fix in Linux. With what seems like an endless array of methods for using Windows, Linux should seem to be ever-more flexible. And now, you should be able to log into your companies (or clients) remote terminal servers easily.