diff --git a/VARIABLES.md b/VARIABLES.md
index 88fdfdea..d6040d8b 100644
--- a/VARIABLES.md
+++ b/VARIABLES.md
@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ it also means that `B` conflicts `A` even if not shown in the table).
 | `_SECRET_BUGZILLA_PASSWORD` | string | not set | used with `BUGZILLA_LOGIN` | This is used to store a password string which does not get exposed in log files. |
 | `_SECRET_BUGZILLA_APIKEY` | string | not set | used with other secrets | This is used to store an API key which does not get exposed in log files. |
 | `USE_CUPS` | boolean | `false`/not set | if set, the desktop printing test will use cups-pdf instead of the generic method |
+| `RDP_SERVER` | boolean | `false`/not set | set to identify an RDP server which will modify the script path for installation tests |
+| `RDP_CLIENT` | boolean | `false`/not set | set to identify an RDP client which will modify the script path for installation tests |
 
 Run variables
 -------------
diff --git a/lib/utils.pm b/lib/utils.pm
index 2382616b..10029ca2 100644
--- a/lib/utils.pm
+++ b/lib/utils.pm
@@ -961,6 +961,24 @@ sub gnome_initial_setup {
             wait_screen_change { assert_and_click ["next_button"]; };
         }
     }
+    unless (get_var("RDP_CLIENT") || $args{live} || $relnum > 39) {
+        # We should be at the GOA screen, except on RDP_CLIENT case
+        # where network isn't working yet. click 'Skip' one time. If
+        # it's not visible we may have hit
+        # https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1997310 , which
+        # we'll handle as a soft failure
+        # This screen was removed from g-i-s in Jan 2024:
+        # https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-initial-setup/-/merge_requests/221
+        # so we don't see it on F40+, and can drop this block when
+        # F39 is EOL
+        mouse_set(100, 100);
+        if (check_screen "skip_button", 60) {
+            wait_screen_change { click_lastmatch; };
+        }
+        else {
+            record_soft_failure "GOA screen not seen! Likely RHBZ #1997310";
+        }
+    }
     send_key "shift-tab" if ($args{live} && $args{livetry});
     # on the 'live' flow, this will launch the installer
     send_key "ret";
diff --git a/main.pm b/main.pm
index eb01f67d..ef6e15c5 100644
--- a/main.pm
+++ b/main.pm
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ sub load_install_tests() {
     # boot phase is loaded automatically every time
     autotest::loadtest "tests/_boot_to_anaconda.pm";
 
-    # if this is a kickstart or VNC install, that's all folks
-    return if (get_var("KICKSTART") || get_var("VNC_SERVER"));
+    # if this is a kickstart or RDP install, that's all folks
+    return if (get_var("KICKSTART") || get_var("RDP_SERVER"));
 
     # Root password and user creation spokes are suppressed on
     # Workstation live install and Silverblue DVD install, so we do
@@ -273,8 +273,8 @@ sub load_postinstall_tests() {
         autotest::loadtest "tests/_memcheck.pm";
         return;
     }
-    # VNC client test's work is done once install is complete
-    if (get_var("VNC_CLIENT")) {
+    # RDP client test's work is done once install is complete
+    if (get_var("RDP_CLIENT")) {
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0c092236
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 13,
+      "ypos": 43,
+      "width": 23,
+      "height": 23,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_add_connection"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8330d649
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_add_connection-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15435f03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 555,
+      "ypos": 556,
+      "width": 96,
+      "height": 19,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_authenticate_button"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2fc3ab35
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_authenticate_button-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..71048ca0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 300,
+      "ypos": 311,
+      "width": 62,
+      "height": 20,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_connect_button"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..38416e4f
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c8783b1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 614,
+      "ypos": 220,
+      "width": 55,
+      "height": 21,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_connect_button"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..404215a6
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_connect_button-verify-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..18f33ec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 816,
+      "ypos": 42,
+      "width": 23,
+      "height": 24,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_fullscreen_toggle"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c7a3f6e7
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_fullscreen_toggle-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7f6f0967
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 475,
+      "ypos": 595,
+      "width": 74,
+      "height": 19,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_no_thanks"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e53b687
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_no_thanks-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e189bf7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 60,
+      "ypos": 237,
+      "width": 93,
+      "height": 18,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_type_rdp"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a5a4888
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_type_rdp-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..41dbe44d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 619,
+      "ypos": 219,
+      "width": 47,
+      "height": 21,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_verify_button"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4a05d616
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_button-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5124dd67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 349,
+      "ypos": 280,
+      "width": 123,
+      "height": 22,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_verify_screen"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d38eb0f2
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_verify_screen-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.json b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..398f08b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.json
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+{
+  "area": [
+    {
+      "xpos": 352,
+      "ypos": 493,
+      "width": 319,
+      "height": 26,
+      "type": "match"
+    }
+  ],
+  "properties": [],
+  "tags": [
+    "connections_welcome"
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.png b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e53b687
Binary files /dev/null and b/needles/gnome/apps/connections/connections_welcome-20241203.png differ
diff --git a/templates.fif.json b/templates.fif.json
index 5645713e..e6b4cd5d 100644
--- a/templates.fif.json
+++ b/templates.fif.json
@@ -2266,6 +2266,37 @@
                 "WORKER_CLASS": "tap"
             }
         },
+        "install_rdp_client": {
+            "profiles": {
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-aarch64-*-aarch64": 40,
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-ppc64le-*-ppc64le": 40,
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-x86_64-*-64bit": 40
+            },
+            "settings": {
+                "BOOTFROM": "c",
+                "DESKTOP": "gnome",
+                "HDD_1": "disk_f%CURRREL%_desktop_5_%ARCH%.qcow2",
+                "INSTALL": "1",
+                "NICTYPE": "tap",
+                "PARALLEL_WITH": "install_rdp_server",
+                "PREINSTALL": "_rdp_client_connect_pre _graphical_wait_login _rdp_client_connect",
+                "RDP_CLIENT": "1",
+                "WORKER_CLASS": "tap"
+            }
+        },
+        "install_rdp_server": {
+            "profiles": {
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-aarch64-*-aarch64": 40,
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-ppc64le-*-ppc64le": 40,
+                "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-x86_64-*-64bit": 40
+            },
+            "settings": {
+                "GRUB": "inst.rdp inst.rdp.username=rapunzel inst.rdp.password=towertop net.ifnames=0 biosdevname=0 ip=172.16.2.114::172.16.2.2:255.255.255.0:rdp001.test.openqa.fedoraproject.org:eth0:off",
+                "NICTYPE": "tap",
+                "RDP_SERVER": "1",
+                "WORKER_CLASS": "tap"
+            }
+        },
         "install_xfs": {
             "profiles": {
                 "fedora-Server-dvd-iso-aarch64-*-aarch64": 40,
diff --git a/tests/_boot_to_anaconda.pm b/tests/_boot_to_anaconda.pm
index b39ca316..82aebdf6 100644
--- a/tests/_boot_to_anaconda.pm
+++ b/tests/_boot_to_anaconda.pm
@@ -104,15 +104,15 @@ sub run {
     $timeout = 120 if (get_var("IS_PXE"));
 
     # call do_bootloader with postinstall=0, the params, and the mutex,
-    # unless we're a VNC install client (no bootloader there)
-    unless (get_var("VNC_CLIENT")) {
+    # unless we're a RDP install client (no bootloader there)
+    unless (get_var("RDP_CLIENT")) {
         do_bootloader(postinstall => 0, params => $params, mutex => $mutex, timeout => $timeout);
     }
 
     # Read variables for identification tests (see further).
     my $identification = get_var('IDENTIFICATION');
     # proceed to installer
-    if (get_var("KICKSTART") || get_var("VNC_SERVER")) {
+    if (get_var("KICKSTART") || get_var("RDP_SERVER")) {
         # wait for the bootloader *here* - in a test that inherits from
         # anacondatest - so that if something goes wrong during install,
         # we get anaconda logs. sleep a bit first so we don't get a
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ sub run {
     }
     else {
         if (get_var("ANACONDA_TEXT")) {
-            # select that we don't want to start VNC; we want to run in text mode
+            # select that we don't want to start RDP; we want to run in text mode
             if (get_var("SERIAL_CONSOLE")) {
                 # we direct the installer to virtio-console1, and use
                 # virtio-console as a root console
diff --git a/tests/_do_install_and_reboot.pm b/tests/_do_install_and_reboot.pm
index 3dd6a470..264f1bc2 100644
--- a/tests/_do_install_and_reboot.pm
+++ b/tests/_do_install_and_reboot.pm
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@ sub run {
         die "Error encountered!" if (check_screen "anaconda_error_report");
         # move the mouse a bit
         mouse_set 100, 100;
-        # also click, if we're a VNC client, seems just moving mouse
+        # also click, if we're a RDP client, seems just moving mouse
         # isn't enough to defeat blanking
-        mouse_click if (get_var("VNC_CLIENT"));
+        mouse_click if (get_var("RDP_CLIENT"));
         mouse_hide;
         last if (check_screen "anaconda_install_done", $interval);
         $timeout -= $interval;
@@ -136,10 +136,10 @@ sub run {
     # check whether install is affected by
     # https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2268505 ,
     # soft fail and work around it if so
-    # our approach for taking all these actions doesn't work on VNC
+    # our approach for taking all these actions doesn't work on RDP
     # installs, fortunately we don't need any of them in that case
-    # yet, so for now let's just flush the list here if we're VNC
-    @actions = () if (get_var("VNC_CLIENT"));
+    # yet, so for now let's just flush the list here if we're RDP
+    @actions = () if (get_var("RDP_CLIENT"));
     # If we have no actions, let's just go ahead and reboot now,
     # unless this is memcheck
     unless (@actions) {
diff --git a/tests/_rdp_client_connect.pm b/tests/_rdp_client_connect.pm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f6618cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_rdp_client_connect.pm
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+use base "installedtest";
+use strict;
+use testapi;
+use utils;
+
+sub run {
+    # Start terminal, as we will be using the xfreerdp
+    # console tool to connect to the RDP server.
+    menu_launch_type('Connections');
+    # If we see the Welcome screen, dismiss it.
+    if (check_screen("connections_welcome", timeout => 10)) {
+        assert_and_click("connections_no_thanks");
+    }
+    # Add a connection
+    assert_and_click("connections_add_connection");
+    # Fill in the connection details
+    type_very_safely("172.16.2.114");
+    assert_and_click("connections_type_rdp");
+    assert_and_click("connections_connect_button");
+
+    # If a certificate warning is shown, delete the local certificate
+    # and reconnect.
+    if (check_screen("connections_unexpected_cert", timeout => 10)) {
+        assert_and_click("connections_delete_local_cert");
+        assert_and_click("connections_connect_button");
+    }
+    # "Verify" connection.
+    assert_screen("connections_verify_screen");
+    assert_and_click("connections_verify_button");
+
+    # Fill in credentials
+    send_key("tab");
+    type_very_safely("rapunzel");
+    send_key("tab");
+    sleep(1);
+    send_key("tab");
+    sleep(1);
+    type_very_safely("towertop");
+    assert_and_click("connections_authenticate_button");
+    wait_still_screen(5);
+    # Make connection full screen to comply with installation needles.
+    assert_and_click("connections_fullscreen_toggle");
+
+    # The connection should have been established, so let's
+    # check for it.
+    assert_screen("anaconda_select_install_lang");
+}
+
+sub test_flags {
+    return {fatal => 1};
+}
+
+1;
+
+# vim: set sw=4 et:
diff --git a/tests/_rdp_client_connect_pre.pm b/tests/_rdp_client_connect_pre.pm
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c7ed75f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_rdp_client_connect_pre.pm
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+use base "installedtest";
+use strict;
+use tapnet;
+use testapi;
+use utils;
+
+sub run {
+    my $self = shift;
+    boot_to_login_screen(timeout => 300);
+    $self->root_console(tty => 3);
+    setup_tap_static('172.16.2.115', 'rdp002.test.openqa.fedoraproject.org');
+    # test test: check if we can see the server
+    assert_script_run "ping -c 2 172.16.2.114";
+    # We try to connect through Connections which should
+    # be installed by default, however if this is not
+    # the case, we do not want the test to fail, so we will
+    # install the app and record a soft failure.
+    if (script_run("rpm -qa | grep gnome-connections", timeout => 30)) {
+        assert_script_run("dnf install -y gnome-connections", timeout => 120);
+        record_soft_failure("Gnome Connections are not installed.");
+    }
+    desktop_vt;
+}
+
+sub test_flags {
+    return {fatal => 1};
+}
+
+1;
+
+# vim: set sw=4 et: