RustDesk Remote Access Setup: A Complete Guide

Overview

This documentation provides a detailed walkthrough of how to set up and use RustDesk, a free, open-source remote access software that allows users to self-host their own relay and rendezvous servers for secure and low-latency remote connections across Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile platforms.

1. Why Use RustDesk?

Compared to traditional remote access tools like TeamViewer, AnyDesk, RDP, and VNC:

RustDesk Benefits:

• Free and Open Source
• Self-hostable for full data ownership
• Supports Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS
• Works with VPN (e.g., Tailscale)
• GPU-accelerated for performance
• Direct LAN (IP-to-IP) access

2. Installation

2.1. Installing RustDesk Client On Windows

1. Download MSI installer from RustDesk GitHub Releases.
2. Run installer to complete installation.
3. RustDesk generates:
   • RustDesk ID
   • Password for access

On Linux (e.g., Ubuntu on ARM SBC like Orange Pi)

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
wget https://github.com/rustdesk/rustdesk/releases/download/<version>/rustdesk-<version>-arm64.deb
sudo dpkg -i rustdesk-<version>-arm64.deb

(Replace <version> with actual version from GitHub)

 Launch RustDesk from the system menu post-installation.

3. LAN-Based Remote Access (IP-to-IP)

To enable secure direct LAN access:

Steps (on both client and remote PC): 

1. Open RustDesk → Menu (three dots) → Security Settings
2. Unlock security with system password
3. Enable:
   • Remote configuration modification
   • Set a permanent password
   • Enable RDP session sharing
   • Enable Direct IP access
4. Set Port to 21118 (default)

Connect Using LAN IP

• Input remote machine's local IP (e.g., 192.168.0.181)
• Enter permanent password
• Connection established (unsecured unless relay server is used)

4. Hosting Your Own RustDesk Relay Server

Self-hosting enhances privacy and performance.

4.1. Requirements

• Minimal VPS (1 vCPU, 1GB RAM sufficient)
• Docker & Docker Compose installed
• Public static IP or dynamic DNS

4.2. Setup on Oracle Cloud (Free Tier Example)

Create Instance

• OS: Ubuntu 22.04
• Specs: 1 vCPU, 1GB RAM

Install Docker

sudo apt update && sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose -y

Prepare RustDesk Docker Compose File

mkdir rustdesk && cd rustdesk
nano docker-compose.yml

Docker Compose Content

version: '3'
services:
  hbbs:
    image: rustdesk/hbbs
    container_name: hbbs
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./data:/root
  hbbr:
    image: rustdesk/hbbr
    container_name: hbbr
    network_mode: host
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./data:/root

Run RustDesk Server

sudo docker-compose up -d

5. Configuring Clients to Use Custom Relay Server

 5.1. Retrieve Server Public Key

cd rustdesk/data
cat id_ed25519.pub

Copy the full key including the = symbol at the end.

5.2. Client-Side Configuration

1. Open RustDesk → Menu (three dots) → Network
2. Unlock network settings
3. Set:
   • ID Server = your server IP
   • Relay Server = your server IP
   • Key = public key from above
4. Click OK

Once configured, RustDesk uses your private relay. Connections will be shown as "Direct and Encrypted".

6. Cross-Platform Remote Control

Tested platforms:

• Windows → Windows
• Windows → Linux (Ubuntu on Orange Pi 5 Plus ARM64)
• Linux → Windows

Common issue on Linux:

• Wayland support is experimental; use X11 for better compatibility.

7. Security Notes

• Direct IP connections on LAN are unencrypted. Use relay for encryption.
• Ensure your relay server is secured (firewall, SSH keys, etc.).
• Use VPN or Tailscale for cross-network access if not using public relay.

8. Troubleshooting Tips

9. Resources 

• Official Website
• GitHub Repository
• Docker Hub Images
• Wiki/ Documentation

10. Conclusion

 RustDesk is a reliable, private, and performant alternative to mainstream remote access tools. By self-hosting the relay server, users can ensure security and control over their data while enjoying low-latency connections across multiple operating systems.

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