Apache Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway that allows you to access remote servers through a web browser. It supports protocols like RDP, VNC, and SSH. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing and using Guacamole Remote Desktop on CentOS 8. If you're using a Windows VPS UK, the process may be slightly different, but Guacamole can still be a great solution for managing remote desktop connections across multiple systems.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the installation, ensure you have the following:

• A CentOS 8 server with root or sudo access.
• A basic understanding of how to use the terminal.
• Java, Tomcat, and other dependencies installed on your server.

If you’re using VPS UK Windows, you can still run Guacamole, but the installation process might vary slightly depending on the system configuration. Hosting Guacamole on a Windows Server VPS offers flexibility, security, and dedicated resources for remote desktop management.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any packages, it's important to update your CentOS 8 system to ensure that all existing packages are up to date. Run the following commands:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Guacamole requires several dependencies, including Java, Tomcat, and MySQL. Install them with the following commands:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf install wget libtool cairo-devel libjpeg-turbo-devel libpng-devel uuid-devel -y
sudo dnf install java-11-openjdk-devel -y
sudo dnf install mariadb-server mariadb -y
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Step 3: Install and Configure Tomcat

Tomcat is the web server that Guacamole will run on. Install and configure Tomcat:

sudo dnf install tomcat tomcat-webapps tomcat-admin-webapps -y
sudo systemctl start tomcat
sudo systemctl enable tomcat

Step 4: Install Guacamole

Download the latest version of Guacamole and its components:

wget https://apache.org/dyn/closer.lua/guacamole/1.3.0/source/guacamole-server-1.3.0.tar.gz
tar -xzf guacamole-server-1.3.0.tar.gz
cd guacamole-server-1.3.0

Next, compile and install Guacamole:

sudo ./configure --with-init-dir=/etc/init.d
sudo make
sudo make install
sudo ldconfig

Step 5: Configure Guacamole Client

Now, you need to set up the Guacamole web application client. Download the WAR file and place it in Tomcat's webapps directory:

wget https://apache.org/dyn/closer.lua/guacamole/1.3.0/binary/guacamole.war
sudo mv guacamole.war /var/lib/tomcat/webapps/

Step 6: Configure Guacamole for MySQL

To use MySQL as the backend for Guacamole, install the MySQL connector and configure the Guacamole properties file:

wget https://dev.mysql.com/get/Downloads/Connector-J/mysql-connector-java-8.0.23.tar.gz
tar -xzf mysql-connector-java-8.0.23.tar.gz
sudo mv mysql-connector-java-8.0.23/mysql-connector-java-8.0.23.jar /var/lib/tomcat/lib/

Then, create the Guacamole properties file:

sudo nano /etc/guacamole/guacamole.properties

Inside this file, configure the MySQL settings:

mysql-hostname: localhost
mysql-port: 3306
mysql-database: guacamole_db
mysql-username: guac_user
mysql-password: your_password

Step 7: Access Guacamole Web Interface

After configuring Tomcat and MySQL, restart Tomcat and access the Guacamole web interface by navigating to http://your-server-ip:8080/guacamole.

Step 8: Use Guacamole Remote Desktop

Once logged into Guacamole, you can start adding connections for remote desktops, such as RDP, VNC, or SSH. The web-based interface allows you to manage and access your servers remotely without the need for any additional client software.

Benefits of Hosting Guacamole on a VPS

Hosting Guacamole on a Windows VPS or virtual private server hosting Windows provides a scalable, secure, and reliable solution for managing remote desktops. Whether you're using a UK Windows VPS or a Windows VPS Italy, the dedicated resources offered by Windows Virtual Private Servers will ensure better performance when managing multiple remote connections.

Consider using a Windows Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting solution for enhanced control and flexibility, especially when managing complex remote desktop environments.

Conclusion

Apache Guacamole provides a seamless and powerful way to manage remote desktop connections through your browser. By following this guide, you can install and configure Guacamole on CentOS 8 and start using it to manage your remote infrastructure. For better performance and scalability, consider hosting Guacamole on a Windows VPS Hosting UK server.