[SOLVED] Mini PC with RDP

[sunshadow]

I'm looking for a low-ish power consumption mini PC with Windows 10 Pro that I can set up with remote desktop (edit: I want to RDP into this box from elsewhere, that would be its only purpose, just me using it, nobody else) and just have it on all the time.

It just needs to be powerful enough to run RDP smoothly and be able to load Chrome/Firefox, Word or a text editor, and a few other non-processor intensive things.

Suggestions welcome.

Thanks.

 

[COLGeek]

I have one of these and it would be nearly perfect for what you described:

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-Processor-Graphics-Bluetooth-Ethernet/dp/B08V54W7W9

What will this system be RDPing into?

 

[sunshadow]

I have one of these and it would be nearly perfect for what you described:

https://www.amazon.com/Beelink-Processor-Graphics-Bluetooth-Ethernet/dp/B08V54W7W9

What will this system be RDPing into?

Thanks. Maybe I didn't clarify properly (I will edit my original post). I want a system to act as an RDP server, that I can RDP into from elsewhere. Do I need something that powerful to act as an RDP server (not sure if server is the right term, it would just be me, no other connections)? Would something cheaper with a Celeron processor work, or is that too slow? I don't mind spending the money if required, but the purpose of this computer will literally only be something for me to RDP into. So it needs to be powerful enough to allow that.

 

[USAFRet]

"RDP into..."

A bit confused here.

What will this system, and the one on the other end, be doing?

 

[sunshadow]

"RDP into..."

A bit confused here.

What will this system, and the one on the other end, be doing?

I live outside the US and sometimes the VPN's I use don't play nice with some sites. Just yesterday I tried to buy something from Target and no matter which VPN server I connected to, it wouldn't let me login. 6 months ago I tried to renew my driver's license (which I would have done in person if not for COVID) and the DMV website just broke down with any VPN I used, and I had to call a friend to login for me and finish it. Some sites can detect that you're on a VPN. I am going back soon so I want to set up a computer that I can connect to via RDP and use it for web browsing and other simple tasks, so I'm actually connecting from a US residential IP address. This works for a friend of mine. He traveled a lot pre-COVID and has a box at his house that he connects to for banking and bill payment and stuff while he's traveling. He had a VPS for a while with windows server and and RDP connection but found that his home setup was much better for his needs. That's why I want it to be low power consumption and it doesn't have to be a powerful machine as long as it can do simple stuff.

 

[mikewinddale]

One problem I see is that if you are RDPing, you cannot reboot the computer or else you'll lose the connection.

Perhaps a server motherboard with a BMC would be better? The BMC lets you remotely reboot/power cycle, and remotely see the desktop during POST, before the OS has booted. You'd just have to make sure you have a VPN for security.

Something like this AM4 board from ASRock Rack might work.

ASRock Rack has quite a few micro-ATX and ITX boards with a BMC that support consumer-grade CPUs (rather than server CPUs).

 

[mikewinddale]

Here is an ITX board with a BMC that supports the latest Ryzen.

 

[sunshadow]

One problem I see is that if you are RDPing, you cannot reboot the computer or else you'll lose the connection.

Perhaps a server motherboard with a BMC would be better? The BMC lets you remotely reboot/power cycle, and remotely see the desktop during POST, before the OS has booted. You'd just have to make sure you have a VPN for security.

Something like this AM4 board from ASRock Rack might work.

ASRock Rack has quite a few micro-ATX and ITX boards with a BMC that support consumer-grade CPUs (rather than server CPUs).

Thanks. I'm not looking for something I have to build. I'm ok to lose the connection if I reboot, and it will be at someone's house so worst case I message them and ask them to take care of it it something goes wrong. This is something I'd be using maybe once a week, which is why I want it to be low power consumption.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks. I'm not looking for something I have to build. I'm ok to lose the connection if I reboot, and it will be at someone's house so worst case I message them and ask them to take care of it it something goes wrong. This is something I'd be using maybe once a week, which is why I want it to be low power consumption.

You could probably find a $200-300 laptop to fill this need.

 

[COLGeek]

You could probably find a $200-300 laptop to fill this need.

Agreed. This is the best option, vice a desktop rig.

 

[sunshadow]

Agreed. This is the best option, vice a desktop rig.

What about a cheaper mini PC with a celeron processor? I want something w/ a small footprint that is inconspicuous.

 

[SamirD]

So what you're wanting to do, I've done for years. I run an IPsec tunnel from wherever I am to home base and then just rdp into my normal system over that tunnel. And don't let the power costs scare you--a system running 24x7 with no load on it is going to be less than a 25w light bulb running 24x7--don't sweat that part.

If you want an actual system of some sort to RDP into, just figure out what system would meet your spec if you were using that in front of you--because if it can't handle it in real life, it won't on the other end of an RDP connection. Then once you've figured this out, you can see how much power saving stuff you can do to it and then install it at home base.

The best part about this is that you can actually shift from doing all your work back from a US IP as your RDP client can be very, very light--I have an older win98se desktop that can RDP into my win7 systems--and you can even use the linux based 'zero-os' thin clients if you want.

 

[sunshadow]

So what you're wanting to do, I've done for years. I run an IPsec tunnel from wherever I am to home base and then just rdp into my normal system over that tunnel. And don't let the power costs scare you--a system running 24x7 with no load on it is going to be less than a 25w light bulb running 24x7--don't sweat that part.

If you want an actual system of some sort to RDP into, just figure out what system would meet your spec if you were using that in front of you--because if it can't handle it in real life, it won't on the other end of an RDP connection. Then once you've figured this out, you can see how much power saving stuff you can do to it and then install it at home base.

The best part about this is that you can actually shift from doing all your work back from a US IP as your RDP client can be very, very light--I have an older win98se desktop that can RDP into my win7 systems--and you can even use the linux based 'zero-os' thin clients if you want.

Thanks. I need an actual system to place at someone's house. I don't have a home base, so this would go to a TBD friend or relative's house, hence the power consumption concerns.

 

[SamirD]

Thanks. I need an actual system to place at someone's house. I don't have a home base, so this would go to a TBD friend or relative's house, hence the power consumption concerns.

I think then you just need to figure out what would great for you in person--I think a laptop might be ideal since it would have a built in UPS (battery) and be optimized for power savings.

 

[Alabalcho]

I need an actual system to place at someone's house. I don't have a home base,

You have much serious issue here - RDP works only within a LAN. So you either have to VPN into the friend' LAN to RDP to your box, or (DONT DO IT) port-forward RDP port on that friend' router.

Apart from that - you can use eg TeamViewer and safe couple of bucks from Pro license. Or install Linux desktop 😉

 

[sunshadow]

You have much serious issue here - RDP works only within a LAN. So you either have to VPN into the friend' LAN to RDP to your box, or (DONT DO IT) port-forward RDP port on that friend' router.

Apart from that - you can use eg TeamViewer and safe couple of bucks from Pro license. Or install Linux desktop 😉

What's wrong with port forwarding? I was intending to set up a dynamic DNS updater like No-IP and make sure the updater is running, then fwd the port, they won't be using it anyway.

 

[drtweak]

What's wrong with port forwarding? I was intending to set up a dynamic DNS updater like No-IP and make sure the updater is running, then fwd the port, they won't be using it anyway.

Of the 6 Ransomware issues I have dealt with, 3 of them were due to RDP Hacks. Don't leave RDP open to the public.

Anydesk is one of the best free Remote software. Install it, set an unattended password, and remote in using that. Do NOT use something that can be used as a point of entry for hackers. Just don't. After this last one i forcefully removed any other clients who only wanted to use RDP for that reason.

 

[sunshadow]

Of the 6 Ransomware issues I have dealt with, 3 of them were due to RDP Hacks. Don't leave RDP open to the public.

Anydesk is one of the best free Remote software. Install it, set an unattended password, and remote in using that. Do NOT use something that can be used as a point of entry for hackers. Just don't. After this last one i forcefully removed any other clients who only wanted to use RDP for that reason.

I'll check into Anydesk. Thanks.