by Greg Shields

The Remote Desktop Client is the tool you and your users will use to connect to your Terminal Services infrastructure. In earlier versions of the RDC, there were actually two versions that could be installed to a user’s desktop, depending on how your users connect to their applications. The first half was the client half itself. This client half included the GUI components you’re used to seeing within the client and was used for creating custom connections to server desktops. The other half was comprised of an ActiveX control that could be used in invoking connections hosted on Web sites or in pre-generated RDP files.

With RDC v6.0 and greater, RDC now combines both of these halves into a single client. The new client can be used for creating custom connections as well as working with RDP files that are hosted on Web pages such as TS Web Access.

There is one not-well-known issue with the installed version of RDC on Windows XP. This is specifically related to the client that is either downloaded from Microsoft’s Web site or arrives with the installation of Windows XP SP3. With this version of the client, its ActiveX components are not enabled by default. If you attempt to connect a fresh client to a Web-hosted RDP file, you will quickly find that it does not work. You will enable the RDC’s ActiveX components through Internet Explorer. Click on Tools | Manage Add-ons | Enable or disable add-ons . In the resulting screen, you will likely see one or two instances of Microsoft Terminal Services Client Control ActiveX . Enable any instances you see.

It is also possible to programmatically enable the RDC by manipulating the registry. Delete the key {7584c670-2274-4efb-b00b-d6aaba6d3850} which is found at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionExtSettings . It is easiest to accomplish this across your entire infrastructure through the use of a Group Policy Preference setting. Once enabled, the RDC should operate as normal.

Connecting to a remote server’s desktop is done in the client by simply entering the server’s computer name into the RDC’s box marked Computer . By clicking the Options button, you will expand the available options. By marking options for display, local resources, and experience, you can adjust the level of experience you will receive when connecting to the remote server.

Note : Adding extra options to a connection can increase the amount of data that is required to maintain the session, which can have a negative impact on performance.

You may find that the RDC prompts you with messages relating to its inability to authenticate the server to which you are attempting to connect. The RDC in v6.0 and later has been augmented with new security features. These features enable administrators to require Terminal Servers to authenticate to clients before clients will connect. This action prevents rogue Terminal Servers from intercepting client connections and is a subject for a detailed discussion later in this series. For now, if you want to disable this behavior and eliminate the error messages, select the Advanced tab and select the box marked If the actual verification does not meet minimum policy requirements to Connect and don’t warn me .

You’ll also notice that nowhere in the RDC’s GUI is it possible to connect to a RemoteApp hosted on top of a Terminal Server. Only connections directly to Terminal Server desktops are supported directly through the GUI. Connecting directly to a RemoteApp is only possible when launching (via double-click) an RDP file that was created either manually or through the RemoteApp Manager.

About the Author

Greg Shields is an independent author, speaker, and IT consultant, as well as a Partner and Principal Technologist with Concentrated Technology. With 15 years in information technology, Greg has developed extensive experience in systems administration, engineering, and architecture specializing in Microsoft OS, remote application, systems management, and virtualization technologies. He is a Contributing Editor and columnist for TechNet Magazine and Redmond Magazine, and serves as the Series Editor for Realtime Publishers, the world’s leading provider of high-quality content for the IT market. Greg is a highly sought-after and top-ranked speaker for both live and recorded events, and is seen regularly at conferences like TechMentor Events, Microsoft Tech Ed, VMworld, and more. He is a multiple recipient of Microsoft “Most Valuable Professional” award.