Software

Guacamole uses two parts: a backend service (guacd) and a web interface (usually via Tomcat). The backend handles the connection; the web app handles the users.

Guacamole simplifies remote access — but setup takes some effort. It’s not a one-click install. Admins should be comfortable with web servers, firewalls, and auth systems.

MeshCentral isn’t a service — it’s a server. It’s what happens when remote access is needed, but the idea of routing everything through someone else’s cloud doesn’t sit right. Designed and maintained by Ylian Saint-Hilaire at Intel, MeshCentral is an open-source, self-hosted platform for managing remote systems — desktops, laptops, and even headless hardware — through a central web interface.

There are situations — often in design, video work, or 3D modeling — where any lag between a click and the result on screen isn’t just annoying, it’s a dealbreaker.