Need an RDP client compatible with AVD

pathief@lemmy.world to Linux@lemmy.ml – 28 points –

I work with a client that migrated their infrastructure to Microsoft. In order to connect to their Linux Server, I now have to Remote Desktop to their Azure Virtual Desktop thing. I'm not pleased but it's out of my control.

I tried remmina freerdp but doesn't seem to support that Azure thing, there doesn't seem to be an option to add the workspace.

Any recommendations or do I have to setup a virtual machine just for this? :/ Cheers

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  1. Log into the Windows machine via the webclient avaliable at https://windows365.microsoft.com/
  2. Use PuTTY to set up a reverse tunnel. You'll need to create a restricted tunnel-only user in your machine. Make sure to use key auth.
  3. From your local machine, connect to localhost:portnumber.

As an alternative, you might be able to set up OpenSSH in Windows (yes it's possible), then use the ProxyJump setting in your local ~/.ssh/config to connect via a tunnel to the final box.

Here's how you configure the server to not let the user wreak too much havoc:

Match User restricted
        PermitOpen 127.0.0.1:3389 [::1]:3389
        X11Forwarding no
        AllowAgentForwarding no
        ForceCommand /bin/sh -c 'while sleep 999; do true; done'
        ClientAliveInterval 1
        ClientAliveCountMax 2

Fun fact: mentioning etc ssh sshd_config triggers some CloudFlare security warning that prevents me from posting it under the right name.

I wasn't able to set up a reverse tunnel, because I'm also under a corporate VPN :( I was able to get xfreerdp to work, though! Maybe I can add some port-forward + tunnels and be free :P

If your local machine is not reachable from the internet, you could set up the cheapest VPS - you can get a free one for 12 months at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/#all-free-services Connect from your destination machine (the firewalled one) to the VPS, and set up a reverse tunnel. For example, drop this into your ~/.ssh/config on the destination machine:

Host rtun
        Hostname something
        RemoteForward 1234 localhost:22

tmux new-ses 'while sleep 1; do ssh rtun; done'

Then configure your local machine to connect to destination via the jumpbox:

Host vps
        Hostname something

Host destination
        Hostname localhost
        Port 1234
        ProxyJump vps

ssh destination should work now.

Make sure to use SSH key auth, not passwords, and never transport secret keys off-machine. It's easier to wipe and recreate a VPS, if you lose keys, than to explain to Security folks how you were the donkey that enabled the breach.