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RustDesk

rustdesk · Office productivity

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What is RustDesk?

RustDesk covers the same ground as TeamViewer and AnyDesk: one person sees and controls another person's computer to fix a problem. The difference is where the coordinating servers live. The apps work with the project's public servers out of the box, and a company can swap in its own ID and relay server so sessions are arranged on infrastructure it controls.

RustDesk is a remote desktop application for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. An IT team can see and control another computer, move files across and forward TCP ports, with connections arranged by an ID and relay server that you can host yourself.

Core capabilities

  • Connect to Windows, macOS, Linux and Android devices from one client.
  • Transfer files during a session and forward TCP ports through the same connection.
  • Host your own ID and relay servers, free, with Docker Compose or a .deb package.

Remote support from one client

RustDesk runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, and its site also mentions a web client. A technician connects with the target's ID and password, then sees the screen, controls the keyboard and mouse, and moves files in a file transfer view. The project also shows TCP tunnelling. On macOS the app needs Accessibility and Screen Recording permissions. On Linux, reaching the login screen needs an X11 session, because Wayland support is limited.

  • Remote desktop
  • File transfer
  • Cross-platform

Run your own ID and relay server

The free server has two parts: hbbs, the ID server that introduces computers to each other, and hbbr, the relay used only when a direct link cannot be made. Install it with the Docker Compose file, an install script or a .deb package, then enter the server address and key in each client. The client and the OSS server are both AGPL-3.0. RustDesk Server Pro is a separate paid product that adds a web console, OIDC, LDAP, 2FA and device management; the free server has none of these.

  • Self-hosting
  • Docker
  • AGPL-3.0
  • hbbs and hbbr

Roll out to many machines

For larger fleets the docs give silent-install scripts for Windows (PowerShell and batch), an MSI package, and bash scripts for macOS and Linux. They download the latest release, apply a config string and a password, and print the ID. A configured client can also export its server settings for import on other clients, and rustdesk.exe accepts a --config string for unattended setup.

  • Deployment
  • MSI
  • Scripts
  • Helpdesk

Where it fits

Use cases

  1. 01

    Help a colleague from the service desk

    Ask the user to open RustDesk and read out the ID and password shown in the window, then enter them in your own client. You see the screen, take over mouse and keyboard, and can open the file transfer window to send a fix or fetch a log.

  2. 02

    Roll out preconfigured clients to staff PCs

    Run the PowerShell, batch, MSI, macOS or Linux deployment scripts from the docs to install silently and apply your server settings and a password. Each machine then registers with your own server and can be reached for support.

  3. 03

    Keep remote sessions on your own network

    Start the hbbs and hbbr containers with the Docker Compose file, open the listed ports, then enter your server address and key under Settings, Network on each client. Computers find each other through your server, and traffic uses your relay when a direct link fails.