Alibaba Cloud offers several remote connection methods. Choose a method based on your operating system, security requirements, convenience, and network environment.
Choose a connection tool
Connection tool | Supported OS | Local installation required | Internet access required | Passwordless logon supported | Alibaba Cloud logon required |
Workbench (browser) | Windows, Linux | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Session Manager (browser) | Windows, Linux | No | No | Yes | Yes |
VNC (browser) | Windows, Linux | No | No | No | Yes |
Alibaba Cloud Client | Windows, Linux | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
SSH client (third-party) | Linux | Yes | Yes | No | No |
RDP client (third-party) | Windows | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Connection tools and guides
WorkbenchWorkbench is a remote connection tool provided by Alibaba Cloud. It requires no installation and supports file transfers and multi-screen terminals. References | Alibaba Cloud ClientAlibaba Cloud Client is official software provided by Alibaba Cloud to manage resources. After installation, you can use it to connect to ECS instances. References |
Session ManagerSession Manager is a high-security connection feature of Cloud Assistant. It protects your instance from external attacks because a public IP address is not required. It also provides a full audit trail of all operations. References | SSH client (third-party)To use a third-party Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) client to connect to a Linux instance, the instance must have a public IP address or an elastic IP address (EIP). Common SSH clients include OpenSSH, PuTTY, and XShell. Reference |
VNCVirtual Network Computing (VNC) lets you view the real-time interface of the operating system on an instance. You can view the system interface during instance startup or shutdown. Because VNC is not limited by security group settings or software running on the instance, you can use it to troubleshoot connection issues when other methods fail. Reference | RDP client (third-party)To use a third-party Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client to connect to a Windows instance, the instance must have a public IP address or an EIP. Common RDP clients include Microsoft Remote Desktop, Windows Remote Desktop, and Windows App. Reference Connect to a Windows instance using Remote Desktop or Windows App |
FAQ
How do I check if an instance is assigned a public IP address?
On the Instance list page, check if a public IP address is assigned to your instance. If not, enable Internet access.
How do I check the operating system of an ECS instance?
On the Instance list page, view the operating system information for your instance. Most non-Windows operating systems are Linux-based. The following figure shows an example of an ECS instance that runs Windows.
If the wrong operating system is installed, you need to reinstall it. For more information, see Replace the operating system (system disk).
