Make a tablet more useful with remote desktop software

ManWithBeard1990 · September 20, 2014

Good evening, gentlemen. I've made a tutorial on how to make an iPad (or indeed any other tablet) more useful by using a remote desktop client. This is used to connect to your own pc, which runs, in a VM, a full-fledged operating system that you can use instead of whatever locked-down OS your tablet manufacturer decided to give you. In addition, it will give you all a brief introduction to Linux. I know all of you are generally Windows users, but when it comes to remote desktop software over the internet, Linux is king. Linux has had this client-server relationship between GUI and processing since the dawn of time, and this is why it's more suitable for this job than most other OSes. I will be using a lightweight Ubuntu-based OS.

First off, if you haven't already, you need to download virtualization software, and a guest OS you'd like to use. I personally prefer VirtualBox, and while I still maintain that Kubuntu is the best OS in the world and has a very touchscreen-friendly UI if configured right, Xubuntu is said to be more lightweight and I'd like to give that a go. For the remote desktop software I'll show you how to install NoMachine NX. The NX protocol uses the client-server separation inherent in Linux, but compresses the traffic between the two, so it's still useable over a reasonable internet connection (trust me, I've tried VNC and it was terrible). The client can be found in the App Store on the iPad.

Once you've launched VirtualBox, you'll want to create a new VM. Give it a name, set the type to Linux, and the version to Ubuntu(64 bit). If your processor is 32 bit and/or doesn't support virtualisation, you'll need to use the 32 bit version of Xubuntu. Also, processors without virtualisation support will not be able to make use of multiple cores. You'll want to give it as much RAM as VirtualBox thinks is appropriate, and I recommend setting the virtual harddisk to fixed size, and probably about 20 GB. This will create your VM. You can then click settings to set the amount of CPU cores your VM can use (I'd recommend using at least one less than your PC has available to maintain responsiveness outside the VM), the amount of VRAM, and also, to enable 3D acceleration. You'll also want to enable the host IO cache in the storage tab. Lastly, you'll want to add some shared folders so you can access your own files on your real PC. It's best to enable auto-mount on these shared folders.

When you start the VM, you'll find yourself with a virtual computer with no OS on it yet. If it's the first time running, it may prompt you for an install disk. Now is the time to select your Xubuntu ISO.

Okay, it boots. Now we are presented with a nice screen that asks us whether we want to install or try it out first. This is a VM anyway so we'll want to install it straight away.

Of course you'll want to download updates while installing (up to date OS out of the box is a nice touch), and installing some third-party software is nice too. This isn't bloatware, it's just a load of stuff everyone uses. The reason it's installed separately is because it's not all open-source.

ManWithBeard1990 · September 20, 2014

Select the correct timezone and keyboard layout, and set your login information. It's probably best to log in automatically, too. I don't think it poses an additional security threat. After that, the installation will continue and you will be entertained with additional information on how the OS is best used. This will take but a few minutes.

As is usual with installers, the VM will now require a reboot. It'll auto-eject the ISO and you'll eventually be greeted with your very own XFCE desktop. By default it runs at 640 by 480 resolution, which is quite low. If we install the correct drivers it'll support more resolutions. First of all, click view -> switch to scaled mode in the VM's window. This makes sure the resolution the VM runs at stays fixed. Next click the Xubuntu-logo in the top left corner and click on settings.

Scroll down and click Additional Drivers under the Hardware section.

Use the suggested driver, and apply changes. It will ask you for your password. This is okay. It's normal behaviour for Linux and OSX to ask for an administrator password for anything that requires administrator rights. After a reboot you should be able to select additional resolutions in the Display settings under the Hardware section. Next we'll want to install some software. For that you can navigate to the Ubuntu Software Center. It has stable, relatively recent versions of a lot of popular open-source software. You may want to install VLC, LibreOffice and Chromium, for example. (Although Steam is available here I think gaming over a remote desktop connection to a VM is somehow a little too ambitious, although you're welcome to try)

ManWithBeard1990 · September 20, 2014

Of course not all software is available within the Software Center. NoMachine is one of these packages that aren't in the Ubuntu repository. Not to worry, though, they provide an installer package on their website. You'll want to download the NoMachine for Linux DEB package (i386 for 32bit OS, amd64 for 64 bit OS (yes, even if you run an Intel CPU)). Firefox will use the software center to open the installer file. Install it. The software starts automatically and will do so each time you login. The NoMachine icon will become visible in the system tray on the top right.

Your guest OS is now ready to be connected to from the outside. You can do so by downloading the NoMachine software on your tablet, or indeed any computer, and connecting to the correct IP address or URL if you have a Dynamic DNS account. Port forwarding will be necessary in both the router and the VM settings. Forward TCP port 4000 and UDP port 4814, and you're done.

Happy remoting.

Opcode · October 7, 2014

I personally recommend using SplashTop and then you can control your host OS as if it were a mobile touch laptop. I personally am waiting for AnyDesk to come out with Linux and Mobile builds since it offers some the fastest remote access.

steffen_anywhere · October 7, 2014

I personally recommend using SplashTop and then you can control your host OS as if it were a mobile touch laptop. I personally am waiting for AnyDesk to come out with Linux and Mobile builds since it offers some the fastest remote access.

I use Splashtop as well. On a fast local network you can stream games to iPad lag-free (not quite as good as Nvidia GameStream but hey, you don't need an Nvidia GPU and shield).