Remotely accessing a machine without an active user login was once straightforward on Linux using XDMCP. However, modern display managers like SDDM, used by KDE, no longer support XDMCP. This is because XDMCP is incompatible with Wayland, the display protocol favored by KDE for its future development. Wayland, designed for local displays, presents inherent challenges for remote access solutions.
The need for a robust remote desktop service persists. Protocols like VNC or RDP could potentially bridge this gap. Imagine a system where upon user connection and authentication via Rdp Server, a full Plasma session initiates using the Kwin “virtual” backend.
Currently, a dedicated solution for this use case is lacking. Projects like Ogon, aiming for a more general remote session creation, appear inactive. The Kwin “virtual” backend, initially created for automated testing, may not be fully optimized for a shared remote desktop experience. Developing comprehensive remote login support for modern Linux desktops remains a significant undertaking.
A viable, albeit less ideal, workaround involves enabling auto-login on your Linux machine. By configuring automatic login to a user account with remote desktop enabled, you can then establish an RDP server connection to access the desktop environment. This method provides immediate remote access upon system boot.
