Remote Desktop Connection TS user limit? 2

[Leozack]

Hi all - when using remote desktop to get access a server, you can happily sit in the background without interupting the currently logged on user, as it has licenses for more than 1 concurrent connection or something. My issue is - is there any way, hacking or otherwise, to acheive this on an XP pro computer? It'd be nic to remote my PC at home from work using RDC, but I dont' want to disconnect my session on the home PC as it would wreck all the running programs etc. I would use VNC but it seems ports are blocked or something because despite leaving my home pc set to 'allow' vncserver in my sygate firewall, I just failed to connect to my IP from work. Any ideas? Or perhaps a VNC tweak to use port 80 or something?

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[teckystuff]

you sure you are not using a software firewall on your computer at home that is blocking VNC? Dont forget Windows built in firewall too

 

[Jasen]

Leo, I've been trying to hack my windows to do this for probably years now. No luck yet.

You know, if you log onto the PC with the same username as is logged into the console, it won't close out your applications?

As for the VNC, do you have a router? If so, you'd need to forward those ports to your computer's IP.

 

[Leozack]

The home PC has sygate software firewall with VNC server set to "allow". It is also left logged on as myself running apps and servers etc.

The work pcs are behind a grid system with it's own firewalls etc, but I know both RDC and VNC are possible through the firewalls, just most likely on different ports.

It would be easy to use RDC so I didn't have to put VNC on a work PC, but what I don't want to do is RDC to my home pc, login as myself, and cause any programs to stop running, or loose view of certain ones that, if something fullscreen runs, appear as just black windows afterwards (though they can be minimised and restored ok).

It would also be bad if I logged in on RDC, didn't stop the programs running, but gave my home pc the bluescreen saying you've been replaced by an admin user, because then if I got home and logged in I guess it wouldn't still have the programs running? It's a messy business.

VNC is certainly easier to know what is going to happen, but RDC is easier to run. But I'm guessing I need to set the incoming ports on my home pc to be whatever work uses for vnc/rdc and maybe then the connection will get through. It's just the RDC issue that concerned me I don't want to kill my apps/windows that are running.
Thanks for any thoughts as always

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[cdogg]

I'm not sure why you think logging into your home PC over Remote Desktop is going to jeopardize your current session. As long as you sign in as the same account that's already logged in, then you will be using the same session and not forcing any kind of logouts.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Leozack]

So if I leave windows open and my pc logged on, including windows that if another window goes fullscreen like a game, are turned black and ahve to be closed and rerun to regain screen updates, connecting via RDC won't break them and it'll literally be like sitting down at the same pc and coming off of screensaver? That would be ... really nice.
How about when I'm finished using the remote session? I close it not log off, and come home - but don't I find the bluescreen saying an admin has logged onto this pc? And I have to relogon? I figure that's when I'll find my windows are broke if they're still running?
I tried vnc today after spending a while finding the port used through the work grid, but it didn't work, I'm told I need to be on the vpn in order for the ports to be allowed or something.

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[cdogg]

When you leave a program open on your home PC, leave it minimized if you're concerned about it affecting the performance of Remote Desktop. As long as you don't close it from your Remote Desktop session, then it will continue to run.

When signing out of Remote Desktop, it does not force your local account to log out or close. It just releases the PC back to a local user. So when you get back, it'll be just like you never left.

I advise that you add a spare PC to your home LAN and test it. The spare PC doesn't have to have WinXP. Any version of Windows 98 and later can run the RD client. You can download it from MS's website or install it from the XP CD.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[markdmac]

I do this on a daily basis. All you need to do is use the "X" to disconnect the session instead of logoff. When you return home the screen will be locked nad you just need to enter your password to resume the session just like you left it.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[Leozack]

Really? That'd be sweet. And I guess as harmless to this pc as using vnc. Though I'm not sure how it works in the way that vnc is just sending that pc your commands and updating you with a moving screenshot as it were, rdc acts like it's actually running stuff using your pc as a ts client and such. How about a dx application - would that work across rdc? I guess I'll continue testing to find out, thanks for the tips, have a star

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[markdmac]

RDP works much the same way as VPN. It only sends your KVM data, but with RDP you also have the native ability to redirect printing and local disks for file sharing too.

I hope you find this post helpful.

Regards,

Mark

 

[jakrabit]

using RDP, when you disconnect from the workstation, it merely remains in a "Workstation Locked" state, with whatever apps running, still running.

using VNC, when you connect with the password you provided, it connects to the PC using whatever state it currently is in. and when you disconnect, it remains in that state.

i don't believe you will have an issue with losing any running applications.

Shane
and now for the impressive abbreviations:
DOA, SOL, AWOL, PEBKAC, id10t, FUBAR

 

[Leozack]

You're right I don't loose applications, but I have a directX one as I said that turns black (though carries on running) when other things go fullscreen (not maximised, fullscreen, or resolution change etc). If I ctrl-alt-del then cancel it also goes black. So vnc is good because it doesn't ruin that, infact I can even see it running using vnc. RDC however because of the "change of logon" as it were, makes it go black so it can't be monitored even from the local pc until it's rerun. So I'll be trying to make vnc work. Which today I nearly did using the vpn then vnc, but was told my user on the vpn doesn't have the privilages to use the ports yet. So I'll have to wait and see for now.

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);

 

[cdogg]

"but I have a directX one as I said that turns black...when other things go fullscreen"

OK, so why can't you just leave that DirectX app minimized out of view? Do you have to access it over the RDC?

RDC however because of the "change of logon" as it were, makes it go black so it can't be monitored even from the local pc until it's rerun.

I'm sorry, but what you are saying here isn't very clear. Are you saying that during the RDC session, you want a local user to be able to see the screen? If so, this is not possible through RDC, but is possible using "Remote Assistance".

Also, are you saying that after you end the RDC connection, the local user can no longer see or use the DirectX app?

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Leozack]

Yup - I'm saying this directx window goes black if something else goes fullscreen, or if I ctrl-alt-del, or anything else that "steals" windows I guess, including instigating RDC. So that even if I leave it minimised, RDC in, don't open it, RDC out, come back and relogin locally and maximise it, it's still gone black. But it's not a problem I'll just carry on trying to make vnc work instead or not worry about that app I guess. It's annoying enough it has that problem in the first place

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Leozack

MakeUniverse($infinity,1,42);