Windows Terminal Services Help

[matux]

Hi,

I am trying to set up terminal services on Windows Server 2003. My background is in Linux so this may be a stupid question.

My client wants to be able to access a program on the server using terminal services but wants to do so from a remote office. Is this possible with terminal services?

I have full control over firewall and can open ports, set up forwards etc. There is a static IP address on both sides also. There is no VPN or anything like that currently linking the 2 offices.

Many thanks for any information.

 

[ILW]

The Terminal Services part is straightforward; make sure the "Terminal Services" service is running on the server (right-click My Computer, Manage, Services), make sure "Enable Remote Desktop on this computer" is ticked (right-click My Computer, Properties, Remote) and choose "Select Remote Users" to add the user's ID to the permitted list. This will allow a max of 2 users on the same network to RDP to the server as you require.

Now the risky part. With no VPN between the sites, opening the firewall to allow anyone inbound RDP access is potential suicide. You could restrict it by source & destination IP address but you'd need to get confirmation from your/your Client's Security Team that that is secure enough. It wouldn't be where I work!

Regards
Ian

 

[itamisc]

Matux

What Ian said is right, but you might also want to look at creating a software VPN using IPSEC or PPTP between the client and the server.

You will need a Terminal Service license server as well if the users connecting do not have administrator rights on the server.

Colin

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