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Linux distro for remote access via Citrix and RDP? (aussie.zone)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Looking for advice on which distro to try out for what I suspect is not a common use case.

I want to use my personal laptop to connect to my work PC running windows 11. My laptop is a pugged in to a couple of screens via a dock. The company I work for uses Citrix workspace and RDP for this purpose.

So far I have had a go with Mint 22.3 / Cinnamon and had a lot of trouble with Multi monitors. Best I can do is run the remote session windowed and have it dragged over two screens. This is not adequate by any means. Even getting the connection bar to appear in cinnamon is a nightmare of hitting atl and F10 and hoping it happens.

I've also added KDE plasma to my mint install. So far it is more reliable at getting RDP window to restore so I can drag it over 2 screens, however still no luck with full screen across all screens.

Does anyone else use citrix workspace from linux over multiple screens in full screen mode successfully?

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[–] Creat@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I'm remoting into my work machine with RDP in a similar way, also using multiple (local) screens. I happen to be on CachyOS (Arch), but I would assume this works on any distro.

I just call xfreerdp3 directly with the appropriate command line options to span my local monitors which I want to use. I only use 2 of the 3 I have, as the 3rd remains for my local stuff.

Zero issues. Just works once setup.

A lot of people keep suggesting Remmina, but I couldn't get that to work even slightly. Let alone with fine grained control over monitors.

[–] Im_old@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I used citrix workspace on endeavour OS (KDE), multi monitors (full screen across multiple monitors or one screen only), without problems.

[–] lenni@news.erebion.eu 6 points 1 month ago

I've never used Citrix specifically, but isn't that related to the RDP client rather than the distro or desktop environment?

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Sounding good. This was with a RDP session to a remote Windows PC?

[–] doctorflynt@feddit.org 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

remmina is a good option for rdp sessions and citrix runs just fine on fedora and debian with official clients.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I don't get a choice of remina.

[–] DarkSirrush@piefed.ca 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Remmina is a client on your personal laptop, that uses the RDP protocols needed to connect to your windows pc

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago

Yes but our remote access is locked inside Citrix workspace. No control to do anything but use the RDP inside that.

[–] doctorflynt@feddit.org 1 points 1 month ago

yeah, i missunderstood your needs.

citrix works just fine. used it on different distros in the last 2 years. the only issues i had where multiple desktop with different resolutions with gnome. the upper side of the monitors had to align in order to render the citrix desktop correctly. no idea if thats still an issue and if it happens only with gnome.

[–] Im_old@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

well, a virtual window desktop on cloud. Also, technically to a Citrix session, not RDP.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah that's not the same thing that my work uses.

[–] Im_old@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

from the remote desktop client perspective there is no difference if the target is a real pc or a virtual desktop. You asked about citrix workspace. But sounds like you actually want an RDP client, not citrix. What @creat said looks like the best option.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My company uses RDP locked down inside Citrix workspace.

You have to use the RDP in the workspace. Not roll your own remote connection. There are no other apps inside our workspace.

Not sure how to explain it better than that.

[–] Im_old@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

ah I see, thanks for clarifying! Yeah it's the same setup as I was using, so it should work fine

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

*on Wayland I assume

Linux Mint is old and outdated, installing KDE likely defaults to the X11 session (because Kubuntu still defaulted to that for a looong time. Now they have 6.6 lts which might actually be really good)

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Most of the stuff I've read points to Citrix workspace being equally old and outdated thus being better on x11 than Wayland.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Yeah might well be. Clients are mostly way better off than servers, but multi monitor is fundamentally different between X11 and Wayland

Basically X11 doesnt even know multiple monitors, which is why mixed FPS, scaling, colorspaces etc are not possible. It is basically just one larger display with a weird shape.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I just swapped from Mint to Kubuntu running Wayland by default.

KDE does make dragging the RDP window over two screens a lot easier given the full screen, maximise, move and resize menu options are always there working.

But proper full screen over two screens still locks the RDP session to one screen only.

I certainly like KDE more than cinnamon.

[–] boredsquirrel@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 month ago

Yeah the rest will depend on your client and if there is any that actually supports this.

[–] StellarExtract@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Probably doesn't need to be said, but make sure doing this won't get you in trouble at work. Most enterprises would likely consider this a security issue, and most larger ones actively monitor what software is installed on workstations.
Edit: I see now you say this is commonplace where you work.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

We used to have a different method where by we connected to the company VPN from our home PC, then used a remote connection via that. It worked so well, no lag, full clipboard and drives support. This apparently meant our home PC was a security risk on the company network.

New IT banned that method and switched to Citrix workspace with RDP locked down inside that. Apparently it is much more secure. It is a bug ridden laggy piece of shit to use though and that is on windows. Linux version is no different in terms of lagging.

[–] StellarExtract@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

If this is an expected method of access, maybe just reach out to support about it. Let them solve it for you.

[–] Longmactoppedup@aussie.zone 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I have asked them. It's an entirely windows centric business. The ticket is "low priority". WFH has been shifting slowly from a right to a luxury.

I guess I need to do what I can at my end by selecting the most suitable distro / DE.

[–] StellarExtract@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

Well, best of luck. I guess worst case, if you can't figure out any other options, you could always try running a windows vm just for the remote access piece. You've got to hold onto that WFH while you've got it.

[–] lagoon8622@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

Remmina