Remote Desktop Protocol

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The Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a protocol utilized in connections between Windows machines running the RDP Service and client computers connecting to carry out administrative tasks. It utilizes both TCP and UDP ports 3389. Clients are available for multiple platforms.

On a Windows XP machine only one desktop session can operate at a time. The newest connection to the desktop session will take control and lock out other connections.

On a Windows Server 2003 machine, the default number of simultanious sessions that can be established is 5, and they all control different desktop instances.

Contents 1 Configuring the RDP Service to Listen for Connections 2 Windows Client 3 Macintosh/Linux Client 4 Troubleshooting

Configuring the RDP Service to Listen for Connections

Windows XP/2003

1. From the Desktop, right click on My Computer. Then Left Click on Properties
   • Alternatively you can goto Start ->(Settings)Control Panel -> System
2. Click the Remote tab from the top of the window.
3. From the bottom box, toggle the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer click box so that it is checked.
   1. Users in the administrator group will by default be able to connect, but if you want other users to connect click Select Remote Users.
   2. Click Add....
   3. Click Advanced....
   4. Click Find Now.
   5. Select the user you want to add by single clicking on them. Then click OK.
   6. Repeat from sub-step 3 for additional users.
   7. When all your users are populated click OK and then OK on the second dialog box.
4. Click Apply and then OK to finalize your changes and close the Window.

Windows Client

In Windows XP/2003/Vista, a client is included in all installations for connecting to a computer configured to allow RDP connections. This client can be accessed by going to:

• Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Communications -> Remote Desktop Connection

For all other versions of Windows starting at Windows 95, a client can be found at: The Windows XP: Remote Desktop Connection Software Download Page

Macintosh/Linux Client

In Mac OS X a program called rdesktop has been included that allows for a connection to be made to Windows machines properly configured Windows machines. This client is open source software released under the GNU General Public License. It can be acquired from numerous Linux repositories or from the developer's homepage at the rDesktop Developers Home.

Microsoft has released Remote Desktop Connect (RDC) for Macintosh. The current version (2.0) is a Beta release, but is fairly stable.

Troubleshooting

These are some of the possible reasons that a remote desktop session may fail. While this is not a comprehensive list of all reasons a session may fail, it is meant to be a helpful quick reference for common issues.

• If your computer is behind a router or firewall, remote connections to the appropriate ports may be blocked. This can be rememdied by opening the appropriate ports or utilizing the Port Forwarding feature common to many routers.
• If the Terminal Services service has been disabled on the host machine then Windows will not be able to accept remote desktop connections.
• Safe Connect :: Troubleshooting: Remote Desktop - Troubleshooting information regarding Remote Desktop connections to machines on the URI Network.