3-4 RDP Remote Control
Learning Objectives
This chapter will guide you through learning how to set up RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) remote connection on Pandora. This will allow you to operate the graphical interface and develop programs remotely, even if you cannot directly access the development board's screen. However, it's important to note that RDP still requires detecting a physical screen to function, even if you don't actually view it. This is one of the necessary conditions for the system to enable its graphical interface.
In addition to remote command-line operations via SSH, you can also use RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) to achieve full graphical desktop remote control, allowing users to operate Pandora as if they were doing so locally.
Compared to traditional VNC (Virtual Network Computing), RDP offers a smoother operating experience, better performance, and a more complete encryption mechanism. Especially when screen updates are frequent or smooth operation is required, RDP generally provides a better user experience.
Furthermore, RDP can be directly integrated with Windows' built-in "Remote Desktop Connection" tool, eliminating the need for additional client software, making it more convenient to use.
Before using RDP, you first need to enable the "Screen Sharing" function on the Pandora side. The specific steps are explained below.
Enable Remote Screen Sharing on Pandora
1. Open Setting, go to the Sharing tab, and turn on Sharing.
2. Click on Remote Desktop, then enable the Remote Desktop function and the Allow Remote Control option to ensure full control permissions during remote connections. Next, set the Username and Password for remote login.
Remote Control Pandora from Your Computer
After completing the remote desktop setup on the Pandora side, you can use remote desktop software supported by the following platforms to connect and control remotely from other computers:
- Windows: Built-in "Remote Desktop Connection" application.
- macOS: Download the "Windows App" (Microsoft Remote Desktop) from the App Store.
- Linux: Connect via remmina.
The following will use the Windows platform as an example to demonstrate how to connect to Pandora:
1. In the Windows operating system, click the Start Menu, type "Remote Desktop Connection," and open it.
2. In the Computer field, enter the IP address of the Pandora development board. After confirming it's correct, click the Connect button.
3. Fill in the login information (username and password) configured on the Pandora development board, then click OK.
4. If the credentials are correct, the Pandora graphical desktop will be displayed, and you can begin remote operations.
Common Issues
Q1: I connected, but then it crashed immediately.
A1: You need to have a physical monitor connected for RDP remote control.
Q2: I cannot connect to RDP.
A2-1: First, confirm if you are on the same network environment.
A2-2: Confirm if the desktop environment has been logged into after booting up.
Q3: For some reason, I need to use VNC instead of RDP.
A3: You can install X11VNC. You can refer to this tutorial video on how to install and set up an X11VNC server on Ubuntu 22.04, which also covers how to install the VNC client on a separate system and establish a remote connection to the VNC server: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=BQnuH6DnPoo