I was wondering if there is any software out there that makes a linux pc (centos 7) act as a remote server for other computer5s to connect to one another in the same way that aeroadmin or teamviewer does. I don't need remote access to the server itself, I can do that with tigervnc but I'd like my server to provide this remote connection to other computers so they can connect. thanks for any advice.

OpenVPN can do this if you enable IP forwarding on the server.

You bring up a very interesting subject ...

First of all, Linux clients do exist for Microsoft's "Remote Desktop" protocols, and all of them work very well. But, Linux does things differently.

Linux actually uses a client/server strategy for windowing. This is called XWindows (the name is coincidental), or lately, XOrg. On a single computer, both the client and the server are running at the same time. (Betcha never knew that until now ...)

This strategy was inherited from Unix®, and it is actually many years old now. (Macintoshes, although built on Unix, provide a client application but do not use it all the time: if you run an app that needs it, it will silently and automatically start, and run as long as it is needed.)

"The server tells the client what to draw, and the client draws it." This means that you can remotely connect to a "headless" server that doesn't even have a graphic card, then conduct a full GUI session with it, and do so very efficiently. The only requirement is that the server is running the "server" process, and that you are running the "client" process. The compressed data stream which passes between the computer consists of mouse/keyboard events and drawing commands.

Microsoft Windows® implemented things in an entirely different way, so their "remote desktop" protocol – even though it works well enough – is noticeably less efficient when used over a busy network. Remote Desktop has to futz around with bitmaps: very clumsy by comparison.

thankyou but I'm talking about a 3-computer setup here, not a 2 computer. computer A wants to connect remotely to computer B but it does it through a third computer - server C. this is how services like aeroadmin and teamviewer work. I wanted to know if there was any linux software I could run on my server (server C) that would enable A and B to connect.

Tailscale is kind of like this, but it drops the 3rd server out of the loop once the tunnel is made.

"OpenVPN is a virtual private network system that implements techniques to create secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities." Wikipedia.

If you run OpenVPN on your Linux machine, and configure it accordingly, it will allow you to connect to your LAN from a remote computer anywhere in the world.

You will then be able to access any Windows machine within that LAN using RDP.

Is that what you're looking for?

Per Teamviewer
While you can consider using a VPN similar its two processes versus running just one. Teamviewer is easy to use for the layperson, openvpn can be fairly complicated to setup plus you need to create certificates for the clients etc. Tailscale uses wireguard VPN which is supposed to be much easier to configure. In comparing remote desktop applications I think the key feature is NAT pass though although I don't think the wikipedia article is totally accurate for some of the software.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compar...sktop_software

I have not found anything yet.

OpenVPN is not easy to set up if you're not used to the command line and/or don't understand how routing works. Their documentation is excellent, though, and it enabled me to set it up without needing external help. I had only a shallow understanding of network routing beforehand. It is widely used, so there are also many online 3rd party guides and videos which will help you to learn how to set it up.

Once it is set up, it is even easier for the end users than TeamViewer... It's literally just an on/off switch.

Many routers now have a VPN function built in, which is easier to set up and probably works just as well although maybe not as secure.

The problem with services like TeamViewer, AeroAdmin or even Google Remote Desktop is that there is an intermediary in your connection. With a VPN server, your connection is directly to the network you're trying to access.

Not disagreeing with you except we do not know why the OP is wanting to use an intermediary server. During the COVID lock down I had to setup a openvpn VPN so I get it.

Now days there are some ISPs that do not provide a public IP address which means a direct connection is not possible. For a in frequent remote desktop help someone fix a problem I use Teamviewer.

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Really? Wow.
Yeah, same. I use TV to help family when they need it... It's easy to get parents to click an icon on the desktop and read out the password over the phone.