VNC vs RDP Performance Comparison (2022)

Summary

This video explores the key differences between RDP and VNC, highlighting their unique session management and performance characteristics. RDP creates a distinct user session, while VNC allows multiple users to share an existing session. The presenter sets up both protocols within a Docker container running an Ubuntu GNOME desktop, comparing their performance under optimal conditions. While VNC demonstrates smoother responsiveness, RDP offers higher visual quality. Ultimately, the choice between RDP and VNC depends on user needs—VNC for shared access and performance, and RDP for more controlled user sessions.

Takeaways

• 😀 RDP creates a new session for each user, while VNC shares an existing user session.
• 😀 RDP requires a valid username and password for login; VNC only needs a separate VNC server password.
• 😀 Performance tests showed that VNC provided a smoother experience compared to RDP.
• 😀 In a local environment with no network latency, VNC outperformed RDP in terms of responsiveness.
• 😀 A hybrid connection using both RDP and VNC allows multiple connections without disrupting the existing session.
• 😀 The setup process involves creating a Docker container with Ubuntu and installing necessary software like xrdp and tigervnc.
• 😀 Ports 3389 (RDP) and 5902 (VNC) need to be mapped for remote connections in the Docker setup.
• 😀 The Dockerfile for setting up the environment is available in the video description for viewers to use.
• 😀 Users can control the mouse and see the screen simultaneously in VNC, allowing for shared sessions.
• 😀 Despite VNC's better performance in this test, real-world performance may vary depending on internet conditions.

Q & A

What are the main differences between RDP and VNC?

RDP creates a new session for each user or takes over an existing one, requiring user credentials. VNC shares the current user session and only requires a VNC password for access.

How is the testing environment set up for comparing RDP and VNC?

The presenter runs both RDP and VNC servers inside a Docker container using an Ubuntu image with a full GNOME desktop installed.

What ports are used for RDP and VNC in the Docker setup?

RDP uses port 3389 and VNC uses port 5902 in the Docker container setup.

How does user session management differ between RDP and VNC?

RDP requires a single active session per user, while VNC allows multiple connections to the same session, enabling collaborative access.

What performance differences were observed between RDP and VNC?

VNC provided smoother performance with less lag compared to RDP, especially when RDP was set to the highest quality settings.

What is a hybrid session in the context of RDP and VNC?

A hybrid session refers to using RDP to create a VNC session in the background, allowing multiple simultaneous connections without disrupting existing ones.

What steps are involved in building the Docker image for RDP and VNC?

The process involves updating repositories, installing the Ubuntu desktop, XRDP, and TigerVNC, creating a user, and configuring the session management scripts.

What user credentials are needed to connect via RDP?

Users need a username and password to log in via RDP, which must match an existing user on the machine.

Can RDP and VNC be used simultaneously in the same session?

Yes, VNC can connect to an active RDP session, allowing multiple access points to the same user session.

What does the presenter recommend based on the performance tests?

The presenter concludes that VNC performed better in the tested local environment but suggests that performance may vary on real remote connections over the internet.