How to Use mRemoteNG to Manage Remote Connections

Like other remote connection apps, open-source mRemoteNG simplifies the remote connection process by collecting nearly all remote connection protocols within one application. This includes most popular connection types and some of the more obscure ones.

Supported Connection Protocols

The full list of mRemoteNG-supported connection protocols is:

• RDP (Remote Desktop/Windows Terminal Server)
• VNC (Virtual Network Computing)
• ICA (Citrix Independent Computing Architecture)
• SSH (Secure Shell)
• Telnet (Telecommunication Network)
• HTTP/HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
• rlogin (UNIX remote login tool over TCP)
• Raw Socket Connections (unextracted packets)

This list covers just about every protocol you might use to connect to a network-connected PC, so mRemoteNG can be your one-stop shop for remote desktop connectivity.

What Are Remote Connections?

If you're not familiar with remote connections, the term can be vague. A remote connection is a type of network connection that allows one PC to access the data on another PC. Just like you connect to a website to access data, remote connections allow you to connect to a PC to access programs and data on that machine.

For the typical user, remote connections can be convenient. You can use remote connections to connect to your home PC from your office or vice versa. If you have an always-on server, you can connect to that device from any machine. You can also connect to devices within the local network so you can share files and applications with friends and family on your home Wi-Fi.

For large organizations, remote desktop connections can be critical to core functionality. In some companies, all data and applications are accessed from a central server that requires a specific type of connection. Depending on the technological policies of the organization, users might not even store data on their machines. IT support in organizations like this needs an easy-to-use, fast tool for plugging into remote connections to diagnose and fix problems.

mRemoteNG is great for both use cases. Whether you're a personal user trying to share videos over your Wi-FI or an IT technician working to keep critical systems operational, mRemoteNG can meet your needs.

Setting up for Remote Connections

Before you can connect to a computer through mRemoteNG or any other remote connection tool, you need to prepare the target machine.

Enable Remote Connections in Windows 10, 8, and 7

1. Open the Start menu and type remote access into the search box.

   

2. Select Allow remote access to your computer in the search results.

3. To set use remote access on Windows 10, select the checkbox next to Change settings to allow remote connections to this computer.

   On Windows 7 or 8, select the checkbox next to Change the settings to allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop.

   

4. If you're on Windows 10, uncheck Allow remote connections only from computers running Remote Desktop with Network Level Authentication.

   

Enable Remote Connections in macOS

To run mRemoteNG on a Mac, first install Remote Desktop Manager.

1. Open System Preferences > Sharing to view remote connection options.

   

2. Check the boxes for Remote Login and Remote Management.

   

   Screen Sharing does not need to be checked, as remote management enables it.

3. Click Computer Settings and check VNC viewers may control screen with password. In the text box, type the password you want VNC connections to use and then click OK.

   

Installing mRemoteNG

Once your target computer is properly configured, open mRemoteNG on your host computer.

1. Download the ZIP file containing mRemoteNG from the mRemoteNG website.

   

2. Extract the ZIP file to any location.

   

3. Open the extracted folder and double-click the mRemoteNG application to launch the program.

   

Opening a Remote Connection With mRemoteNG

Connections can be established with mRemoteNG quickly from the toolbar. Select inside the text box in the toolbar and type the IP address or hostname of your target computer.

You need the local IP address of the target computer.

• Windows 10: Go to Settings > Network & Internet and choose your network interface (typically Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
• Windows 7: Select the network connection icon in the taskbar and select Open Network and Sharing Center. Choose your active network interface and select Details in the Connections setting.
• macOS: Open System Preferences > Sharing > Remote Management.

1. In mRemoteNG, select the connection protocol from the drop-down menu next to the text box. By default, Remote Desktop (RDP) is selected.

   

2. To change the protocol, select the drop-down and then select the desired protocol from the list.

   

3. Select the green arrow next to the protocol drop-down to open the connection.

   

4. To close the connection, select the X in the upper right corner to close the connection's tab. Take care not to close the application itself.

   

Saving Connection Details

If you connect to the same machine frequently, you can save the configuration for quick access.

1. Choose File > New Connection or press Ctrl+N.

   

2. In the Config pane in the lower-left corner, enter the IP address or hostname, username, and password under Connection.

   

3. Select the hidden drop-down box next to Protocol to select the appropriate connection protocol. You can also include a helpful name in the Display portion.

   

4. To connect to a saved connection, right-click the connection in the Connections pane and select Connect. The connection opens in a new tab.