What SSH and VNC clients work well on both Windows and Linux?
Asked by
MellowPine42
We currently use Bitvise for SSH access, but I'm looking for an open-source client that combines SSH and VNC support and works on both Windows and Linux. Electerm looked promising, but there's one behavior I'm unsure about: when I issue a reboot command on the remote server, the Electerm window stays open instead of closing. Reducing the SSH timeout and adjusting keepalives didn't change anything. Is this expected, and are there better client options to consider?
Answers
The window staying open after a reboot is probably intentional. Your local client process is still running even though the remote SSH session has disappeared, and some clients keep the terminal visible so you don’t miss the reboot messages. Closing automatically is usually a client-specific preference rather than something controlled by keepalives.
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RustDesk is worth a look for remote desktop access. Remmina is another solid option on Linux, and it can also be run on Windows through WSL2. If possible, I’d avoid relying on VNC for anything beyond simple administrative use.
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For remote Linux desktops, I’d seriously consider NoMachine or ThinLinc instead of traditional VNC. They generally handle authentication more safely and perform much better over VPNs or high-latency connections. Both provide Windows clients as well.
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For a broader all-in-one tool, Devolutions Remote Desktop Manager supports several remote access protocols and can organize SSH, VNC, and other connections in one place. If you prefer separate lightweight tools, OpenSSH paired with TigerVNC is also a dependable combination.
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