How to Install RustDesk Remote Desktop Server on Ubuntu 25.04

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RustDesk is an open-source remote desktop tool that enables secure and private connections. Below is a complete guide to set it up on Ubuntu 25.04 using Docker, Docker Compose, Nginx, and SSL.

Prerequisites

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• Ubuntu 25.04 server (e.g., hosted on Vultr)
• A subdomain (e.g., rust.example.com) pointing to your server's IP
• Docker and Docker Compose
• Non-root sudo user with SSH access

Install Docker & Docker Compose

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sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker.io
sudo systemctl enable --now docker

sudo curl -L "https://github.com/docker/compose/releases/download/1.29.2/docker-compose-$(uname -s)-$(uname -m)" -o /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/docker-compose
docker-compose --version

Set Up RustDesk Server Using Docker Compose

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sudo mkdir -p /opt/rustdesk
cd /opt/rustdesk

sudo nano rustdesk.yml

Paste the following into rustdesk.yml:

version: '3'

networks:
  rustdesk-net:
    external: false

services:
  hbbs:
    container_name: hbbs
    ports:
      - 21115:21115
      - 21116:21116
      - 21116:21116/udp
      - 21118:21118
    image: rustdesk/rustdesk-server:latest
    command: hbbs -r 127.0.0.1:21117 -k _
    volumes:
      - ./hbbs:/root
    networks:
      - rustdesk-net
    depends_on:
      - hbbr
    restart: unless-stopped

  hbbr:
    container_name: hbbr
    ports:
      - 21117:21117
      - 21119:21119
    image: rustdesk/rustdesk-server:latest
    command: hbbr -k _
    volumes:
      - ./hbbr:/root
    networks:
      - rustdesk-net
    restart: unless-stopped

Save the file (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X) and run:

sudo docker-compose -f rustdesk.yml up -d
sudo docker ps

Install and Configure Nginx

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sudo apt install -y nginx
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw reload

Create Nginx configuration:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/rust.example.com.conf

Replace rust.example.com with your domain:

server {
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    server_name rust.example.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:21117;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    }
}

Save and exit. Test and restart Nginx:

sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl restart nginx

Secure with SSL (Certbot)

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sudo apt install -y certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d rust.example.com

Reload Nginx after SSL setup:

sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx

Get Public Key for Client Configuration

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cat /opt/rustdesk/hbbs/id_ed25519.pub

Copy the output key for client use.

Configure the RustDesk Client

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1. Download client from https://rustdesk.com/
2. Open client and go to Settings > ID/Relay Server
3. Enter:
   • ID Server: rust.example.com
   • Key: Paste the key from the previous step
4. Click OK and start connecting

Test the Setup

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• Install the RustDesk client on another device
• Use the remote ID shown on the target system
• Initiate a connection through your private server

🎉 You now have a fully working RustDesk server with Docker, Nginx, and SSL on Ubuntu 25.04!