macOS: native SDL client (recommended)

export RDP=sdl-freerdp

Linux examples:

export RDP=xfreerdp3

export RDP=xfreerdp

export TARGET=‘10.10.10.10’ export DOMAIN=‘DOMAIN’ export USER=‘username’

> [!tip]+ Secure baseline
> 1. `/from-stdin:force` prompts before connecting, keeping the password out of shell history and process arguments.
> 2. `/cert:tofu` trusts a certificate on the first connection, then rejects an unexpected change.
> 3. `+dynamic-resolution` keeps the session usable when the client window is resized.

```bash
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" \
  /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu +dynamic-resolution

// CONNECTION_&_AUTHENTICATION

1. Identity formats

# Local account
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:Administrator /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu

# Domain account
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu

# UPN
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:'user@domain.example' /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu

[!warning]+ Avoid inline passwords fas:TriangleExclamation /p:<password> is supported, but the password can end up in shell history, terminal scrollback, process listings, screenshots, and copied commands. Use /from-stdin:force unless a disposable authorised lab requires otherwise.

2. Kerberos and smart-card authentication

# Use an existing Kerberos ticket cache
kinit 'user@DOMAIN.EXAMPLE'
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:'user@DOMAIN.EXAMPLE' \
  /sec:nla /kerberos:cache:"$KRB5CCNAME" /cert:tofu

# Smart-card logon (the reader/card must be available locally)
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /smartcard-logon /sec:nla /cert:tofu

[!info]+ Authentication notes

1. /sec:nla explicitly requires Network Level Authentication and disables weaker alternatives.
2. Kerberos depends on DNS, realm configuration, and clock alignment; inspect the ticket with klist before troubleshooting RDP itself.
3. Smart-card logon activates the local reader; it is distinct from /smartcard, which redirects a smart card into an already authenticated remote session.

3. Pass-the-hash — authorised lab/admin use only

export NT_HASH='0123456789ABCDEF0123456789ABCDEF'
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:Administrator /pth:"$NT_HASH" \
  +restricted-admin /cert:tofu

[!danger]+ Credential material fas:Skull A hash is credential material. Use this only with explicit authority, do not save it in the note, and clear the variable with unset NT_HASH when finished. Restricted Admin mode must be permitted by the target policy.

// TRANSPORT_&_CERTIFICATE_SECURITY

# Pin a certificate fingerprint received through a trusted channel
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /cert:fingerprint:sha256:<hex_fingerprint>

# Require NLA and TLS 1.2 or newer where the target requires an explicit floor
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /sec:nla /tls:enforce:1.2 /cert:tofu

[!danger]+ Never make this the default fas:TriangleExclamation /cert:ignore disables certificate validation and makes a rogue or intercepted server much harder to detect. Use it only in a disposable, explicitly authorised lab when certificate validation is the subject of the test.

// DISPLAY_&_PERFORMANCE

1. Display and window controls

# Fullscreen; Ctrl+Alt+Enter toggles back to a window
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu +f

# Fixed initial size, then allow resize-driven updates
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  /size:1600x1000 +dynamic-resolution

# Use 80% of display height or scale the rendered desktop
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /size:80%h
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /scale:140

# Multiple displays or selected display IDs (list IDs with /list:monitor)
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /multimon
"$RDP" /list:monitor
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /monitors:0,1

2. Low-bandwidth profile

"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /cert:tofu /network:modem /compression-level:2 \
  -wallpaper -themes -menu-anims -fonts /gdi:sw

3. High-quality workstation profile

"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /cert:tofu +f +dynamic-resolution /gdi:hw \
  /gfx:progressive:on,AVC444:on /network:lan

[!tip]+ Performance tuning fas:Lightbulb

1. Start with /network:auto or /network:lan; move toward /network:modem only when the connection is genuinely constrained.
2. Disable wallpaper, themes, animations, and smooth fonts before compromising authentication or certificate checks.
3. If hardware rendering misbehaves, use /gdi:sw as a compatibility fallback.

// LOCAL_RESOURCE_REDIRECTION

1. Clipboard and drives

# Disable clipboard redirection for sensitive sessions
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu -clipboard

# Redirect one selected directory as a named remote share
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  /drive:Share,"$PWD"

# Redirect the home directory or every mounted filesystem
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu +home-drive
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu +drives

# Permit hot-plugged removable drives
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /drive:hotplug,*

2. Audio, printers, smart cards, and USB

# Audio output and microphone input
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /sound /microphone

# Redirect a printer or smart card into the session
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /printer
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /smartcard

# Redirect a USB device by vendor and product ID
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu /usb:id:1234:5678

[!warning]+ Data-boundary check fas:TriangleExclamation Clipboard, drive, USB, printer, microphone, and smart-card redirection expand the trust boundary between your machine and the remote host. Enable only the one feature you need and disable it for untrusted or assessment targets.

// GATEWAYS_PROXY_&_REMOTEAPP

# RD Gateway; omit /p: values so FreeRDP prompts for required credentials
export GATEWAY='rdgateway.example.com'
export GW_USER='gateway-user'
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /gateway:g:"$GATEWAY",u:"$GW_USER",d:"$DOMAIN",usage-method:detect \
  /cert:tofu

# HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  /proxy:http://proxy.example.com:8080
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  /proxy:socks5://127.0.0.1:1080

# A gateway also honours an HTTPS proxy set in the environment
export https_proxy='http://proxy.example.com:3128'
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /gateway:g:"$GATEWAY" /cert:tofu

# RemoteApp example
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  /app:program:'||notepad',name:'Notepad'

[!info]+ Gateway credentials A gateway can use credentials different from the target. Keep gateway passwords out of the command line too; FreeRDP prompts when the relevant /p: value is omitted.

// SESSION_CONTROL_&_TROUBLESHOOTING

# Verify credentials and transport without starting the GUI desktop
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /d:"$DOMAIN" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force \
  /cert:tofu +auth-only

# Reconnect a flaky authorised session, up to ten times
"$RDP" /v:"$TARGET" /u:"$USER" /from-stdin:force /cert:tofu \
  +auto-reconnect /auto-reconnect-max-retries:10

[!failure]+ Common fixes fas:CircleXmark

1. $DISPLAY error on macOS: use sdl-freerdp, or install and start XQuartz before using xfreerdp.
2. Certificate changed: stop and verify the server identity through a trusted channel; do not switch to /cert:ignore just to connect.
3. NLA / Kerberos failure: verify DNS, target time, realm configuration, and the ticket cache with klist.
4. Option rejected: your package may differ from this reference; use "$RDP" /help and update the client.

// MACOS_INSTALL fas:Apple

# Homebrew installs FreeRDP 3.30.0, including sdl-freerdp and xfreerdp
brew update
brew install freerdp

# Only required when using the X11 client (xfreerdp)
brew install --cask xquartz
open -a XQuartz

# Verify both available clients
sdl-freerdp /version
xfreerdp /version

[!success]+ macOS client choice Use sdl-freerdp by default on macOS. The Homebrew formula builds the SDL client, while its xfreerdp client requires a running X11 server and otherwise produces a $DISPLAY error.

// LESSONS_LEARNED fas:Lightbulb

1. Set the client, target, domain, and user once; then every recipe remains copy-ready across macOS and Linux.
2. Prefer /from-stdin:force and /cert:tofu; a convenient command should not weaken credential or server authentication.
3. Treat clipboard, drive, device, audio, and smart-card redirection as deliberate data-sharing decisions.
4. Use +auth-only to separate authentication and certificate failures from GUI/display problems.
5. FreeRDP packages differ by platform; "$RDP" /help is the local source of truth.

// REFERENCES fas:BookOpen

1. FreeRDP project
2. FreeRDP 3.30.0 release
3. FreeRDP macOS installation guidance
4. Homebrew freerdp formula
5. Homebrew formula source — enabled X11 and SDL clients

#Cheatsheet #CommandReference #RDP #FreeRDP #RemoteAccess #Windows