Rustdesk Server
Fast, Private Remote Support — Self-Hosted
Overview
Rustdesk is an open-source alternative to TeamViewer and AnyDesk — and unlike those, you can host the whole thing yourself. Mine runs on a cloud server, so my remote sessions relay through infrastructure I control instead of someone else's.
Why I Built It
Sometimes you just need to jump on a machine quickly — family tech support, a quick fix on one of my own boxes — without enrolling it into a full RMM agent. Rustdesk is that lighter tool: install, connect, done. Self-hosting it means no session limits, no nag screens, and no third party in the middle of the connection.
How It Works
- The server components run on a cloud VPS: an ID/rendezvous service that introduces clients, and a relay for when direct connections aren't possible
- Clients are pointed at my server with its key — connections are end-to-end encrypted
- Works from anywhere, on Windows, Linux, macOS, and mobile
Key Lessons Learned
- How remote desktop tools actually connect: rendezvous, NAT punching, and relays
- Opening exactly the ports you need and nothing more
- The trade-off between a full RMM and a lightweight support tool — and when each wins