Desktop and GUI App Containers Launched Instantly and Delivered to Your Browser with Kasm Workspaces - Browser-based Remote Access to Anything Else Running RDP/VNC/SSH/KasmVNC - New Release 1.14 (Updated UI, Webcam Passthrough, Mount Google-Drive/Dropbox/S3, App Translations , Session Localizations) reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- justin_kasmweb · 2023-10-11 07:51 Hi all, I'm co-founder and developer of Kasm Workspaces (https://kasmweb.com). # Overview Kasm Workspaces is a container streaming and VDI platform that can be entirely self-hosted. You can think of us a bit like VMWare Horizon or Citrix, but it's all container based and end users only need a browser to access the app. Our bread and butter is container streaming, which allows you to instantly provision Linux desktop environments and Gui applications. But we also support remote access to any other machine you may have that are running our open-source project [KasmVNC](https://github.com/kasmtech/KasmVNC), or SSH, RDP, and traditional VNC. We invite you to do a [quick install or upgrade](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/index.html) of our free community edition on your server, or try out the [all in one container](https://github.com/linuxserver/docker-kasm#docker-cli- click-here-for-more-info) offered by linxserver.io that is perfect for kicking the tires. You may also be interested in an [independent video review](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXkZVqqAg7c&t=506s) by Jay over at [Learn Linux TV](https://www.youtube.com/@LearnLinuxTV/videos). # Live Demos If you'd like to quickly try an on-demand container feel free to try out one of our live demo sessions below. No installs or signups - just solve a captcha. Note: demos are time limited and traffic is filtered. - [Ubuntu Jammy](https://app.kasmweb.com/#/cast/reddit-ubuntu-osw4XsG) - [Brave](https://app.kasmweb.com/#/cast/reddit-brave-jd82d) - [RetroArch](https://app.kasmweb.com/#/cast/reddit-mystery-3i2kd) # Common Use Cases - Create a traditional VDI environment for remote users with a mix of Linux containers or Windows/Linux Hardware/VMs. - Do cyber threat research or OSINT collection in disposable Kali/ParrotOS/Remnux session deployed in your VPC. - Use Kasm as a jump box / bastion host for remote access into your lab without a needing a VPN. - Host training or collaborative development/work environments with custom images loaded with the software, configurations and curriculum you desire. Students need only their browser. - For sensitive environments, provide internet access to users via Kasm, while restricting uploads/clipboard so your private data doesn't leave your network. - Add a layer of security and privacy to your daily online browser by using Kasm for Remote Browser Isolation. We have a Chrome and Firefox extension that allows you to right-click a link from your main browser and open it in a Kasm session. [Here is a guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5PehIeJ-5Q) on setting that up. ## Whats New? We've just release Kasm Workspaces 1.14.0 and are excited to share the new features with you. [Full release notes](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/release_notes/1.14.0.html). A ### Updated and Translated UI This release, we've given then entire admin section a major face lift, so hopefully the app is easier to use and more intuitive. We've also added machine translations to the full UI. Kasm will detect your default language from your browser settings and display the UI in that language. We've are also working on a way to get your feedback for these translations in the event some things are quite rite. Stay tuned for that. ### Webcam Passthrough Users now have the ability to pass their local webcam in the container based sessions. [Docs/Video](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/web cam_passthrough.html), [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/user_gui de/control_panel.html#webcam) ### Printer Redirection Users can now print to their locally defined printers when inside container or RDP based session. ### S3 Persistent Profiles Admins can now choose to store user's persistent profiles in S3, making for a more secure and scalable solution of using shared files systems like NFS. Other S3 API compatible systems may also be used. [D ocs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/persistent_data/persistent_ profiles.html#s3-based-profiles) ### Cloud Storage / Storage Mapping Admins can now allow their users to map in their cloud storage drives directly into container based sessions. (Support for RDP Workspace coming soon). Google Drive, Dropbox, Nextcloud, OneDrive and S3 are supported. [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/storage_mappings.html) ### Enhancements to the Kasm Windows Service We've made a number of enhancements to the Kasm Windows Service to help make Windows RDP based sessions more capable. - Easier Install! [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/windows /windows_service.html) - File Mappings previously only supported by container sessions can now be used on Windows sessions [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/workspaces.html#file- mapping) - Added the ability to automatically create local user accounts with random one-time password [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/guide/ windows/authentication.html#single-sign-on-with-dynamic-local- accounts) ### Session Language and Time zone Selection Now by default, container based sessions will utilize the language and time zone defined by the users browser. This behavior can be changed via settings in the user's profile [Docs](https://kasmweb.com/docs/latest/user_guide/profile.html#kasm- session-language) # Final notes I'm happy to field any questions you have, or even better - feedback after you give it a try :) . We also post regular updates over in r/kasmweb. Hopefully this release provides additional value to the community. Thanks again to the mods for allowing me to post. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IllegalD · 2023-10-11 10:04 Browser language and time zone is gonna solve a headache of mine, many thanks ---------------------------------------------------------------------- justin_kasmweb · 2023-10-11 11:50 Thats great to hear. You'll likely notice that we also added additional fonts so that all the non-latin languages render properly. Enjoy ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IllegalD · 2023-10-11 11:59 Just keeps getting better 😁 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 14:16 Im missing an use case for this.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Emiroda · 2023-10-11 16:20 It's a (small scale) alternative to Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- hardypart · 2023-10-11 17:40 VNC and SSH to your VMs from anywhere where you have browser access is pretty neat. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 17:42 >VNC and SSH to your VMs from anywhere where you have browser access is pretty neat. I can do that with Guacamole ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 17:44 >It's a (small scale) alternative to Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop..... I have no idea why I would need Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop. I have headless server running services, for those I need desktop I run them on my local machine......... For the remote desktop I have Guacamole. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thePZ · 2023-10-11 17:45 I use this in my homelab to access a number of things from any web browser anywhere, with the benefit of the settings/UI/etc being consistent regardless of what machine or where I log in from. And tracks specific settings per-user (except for the Windows stuff). Here's what I use it for: Access full Windows versions of the following programs using Windows 'RemoteApp' technology * Adobe CC Suite (Photoshop/etc) * AutoCAD Access full Linux versions of the following programs using 'KasmVNC' technology: * FreeCAD * Blender * PrusaSlicer * Filezilla and Doublecommander for local file management and transfers * Chrome Browser (for bypassing browsing restrictions) * Open-source 'equivalents' of Adobe CC (e.g. Gimp, Inkscape) * Coding/Dev environment with VS Code and Github desktop (as well as Insomnia for API testing and Wireshark for network testing) And then access to the desktop (or terminal) environments for the various machines I have running on my network: * Access Mac Mini/macOS Desktop (for Mac specific software) * Windows 11 Desktop * Ubuntu 22.04 Desktop (from containerized Ubuntu) * Ubuntu 22.04 terminal (from local Ubuntu host) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 17:50 >Access full Windows versions of the following programs using Windows 'RemoteApp' technology Dont you need Windows Server for RemoteApp? For the rest I'm using Guacamole. I'm getting down votes for reasons I do not understand... Your post is only one which actually answer my question... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- thePZ · 2023-10-11 18:01 >Dont you need Windows Server for RemoteApp? I use this https://github.com/kimmknight/remoteapptool FWIW, I upvoted you 🤷🏻‍♂️ >For the rest I'm using Guacamole. This article from LSio gives some explanation to at least why they transitioned to this for the desktop app containers over xrdp and Guacamole, as well as noVNC: https://www.linuxserver.io/blog/webtop-2-0-the-year-of-the-linux- desktop ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 18:11 >I use this > >https://github.com/kimmknight/remoteapptool Thank you for this. Last days I just installed Windows 2022 Server to evaluate RemoteApps and I was surprised to see it does not look evolved for at least 10 years or more... >This article from LSio gives some explanation to at least why they transition to this for the desktop app containers over xrdp and Guacamole, as well as noVNC: https://www.linuxserver.io/blog/webtop-2-0-the-year-of-the-linux- desktop It seems streaming quality should be much improved over guacamole which is a BIG THING, but it is not materialized in demo I just tried on their website... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Emiroda · 2023-10-11 18:15 In some large IT environments they centralise applications, so instead of installing an application locally on their machine, users "run" their application on a server and the user is just fed a remote desktop of that application alone. That way users don't have to deal with 2 desktops. Kasm is that, but open source and with a focus on delivering apps inside a container instead of VMs. The use case for corporate self-hosters is if you want to virtualize apps, but you don't want to pay big money. One use case for homelabbers is to expose Kasm to your friends and only let them run certain apps. Another could be remote browser isolation. Yet another could be a super lightweight Linux desktop environments running inside Docker containers as an alternative to Proxmox VMs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- No_Requirement_64OO · 2023-10-11 18:18 >The use case for corporate self-hosters is if you want to virtualize apps, but you don't want to pay big money. I'm interested into this, but I fail to see how exactly this will save me from paying RDS CALs to Microsoft? I have MS Access application to "remoteize" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Emiroda · 2023-10-11 18:33 If you find a way for it to run on Linux, you can get rid of RDS and run it on something like Kasm instead. But it doesn't seem like Microsoft had given Access a good port on Linux. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TheMcRibReturneth · 2023-10-11 19:00 So I can selfhost and then pay you $5 a month. Nah I'm good. Cool app, but I'd rather just run a vpn and organizr. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- svenEsven · 2023-10-11 19:12 Kasm is amazing, I love it. Sketchy link? Kasm, blocked by firewall, kasm, can't install something on the machine you're currently running? Install it in Ubuntu on... kasm. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- justin_kasmweb · 2023-10-11 19:21 You can self host for free with the community edition. Can you explain why you thought you also had to pay $5 a month? Sincerely, I assume we have some confusing messaging somewhere along the lines and want to see about getting it cleaned up. Appreciate the feedback ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HniD4 · 2023-10-11 19:43 Hello, I am really intrigued by this bullet point: "Use Kasm as a jump box / bastion host for remote access into your lab without a needing a VPN." However, I am having a hard time understanding how this would work. Can you please expand on how this works if I were to self host Kasm in my home and would like to have access to internal resources from outside? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HanzlCZ · 2023-10-11 19:58 you open port 443 towards kasm, kasm lives in your local network, you spin up desktop/terminal container in kasm, therefore on your local network, you access this via browser on port 443 you forwarded in first step ​ profit ---------------------------------------------------------------------- froli · 2023-10-11 20:17 My own use case is pretty simple and far from what it can accomplish: I have a browser in Kasm so I can go on websites that are blocked at work. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- greenreddits · 2023-10-12 13:05 hi i kinda fail to see what exactly Kasm is : an equivalent to Docker for apps or rather to Parallels/Vmware in order to virtualise Oses. Can you give me a quick comprehensive answer ?