Can I do this using Terminal Services?

[Czar]

I'm have a win2k server and right now I'm using VNC to connect remotely directly to the desktop. I have used Terminal Services to connect to Win2k servers before but then I just get a different session with each connection, what I want is get the actual desktop, is that possible with terminal services?

 

[Electrode]

I do not think so. Besides, why would you want to use TS if VNC works?

 

[stash]

Apparently you can do this with XPs remote desktop. On the server side, it's supposed to be included with .NET server

 

[bsobel]

That is an actual desktop. I think what you want is the one associated with the physical keyboard/mouse (winstation0). That you can't do with terminal services in 2k, sorry.
Bill

 

[vash]

Terminal Services does not allow you to touch the real desktop. You get your own desktop-like session (which is good enuff for most things), but you still cannot get the "real" desktop. I've found, there are rare times I need the real desktop. It does stink that when you are on the desktop, you can't easily take over a Terminal Services session (unless I'm missing something).

vash

 

[Czar]

damnit:|

I have a few programs running like mirc and guildftp and I want to be able to use those... urg


next question, is there any better, I mean a faster way of getting a remote desktop than vnc?

 

[vash]

Originally posted by: Czar
damnit:|

I have a few programs running like mirc and guildftp and I want to be able to use those... urg


next question, is there any better, I mean a faster way of getting a remote desktop than vnc?

you can use those apps vis terminal server, no problem. with terminal server, i am running trillian, apache, ftp, hlds, etc. it works quite well.

vnc is slow (you get what you pay for). there are numerous other remote apps which are faster and less cpu intensive (pca, timbuktu, etc).

vash

 

[Nothinman]

vnc is slow (you get what you pay for). there are numerous other remote apps which are faster and less cpu intensive (pca, timbuktu, etc).

That line applies well to physical items (sometimes) but in my experience it's the complete opposite in the software world. PCA is complete sh!t, can't comment on timbuktu.

Anyway look at TightVNC, it uses better compression (even has an option for lossy JPG if you want) and should be a good bit faster.

 

[vash]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

vnc is slow (you get what you pay for). there are numerous other remote apps which are faster and less cpu intensive (pca, timbuktu, etc).

That line applies well to physical items (sometimes) but in my experience it's the complete opposite in the software world. PCA is complete sh!t, can't comment on timbuktu.

Anyway look at TightVNC, it uses better compression (even has an option for lossy JPG if you want) and should be a good bit faster.

TightVNC uses a lot of CPU as well. Most VNC implementations are CPU heavy and commercial remote desktop apps consume much less CPU (PCA, Timbuktu, etc). I have yet to see a version of VNC that eats less than 80-90% of the CPU (my reasoning as to why its free).

vash

 

[Nothinman]

TightVNC uses a lot of CPU as well. Most VNC implementations are CPU heavy and commercial remote desktop apps consume much less CPU (PCA, Timbuktu, etc). I have yet to see a version of VNC that eats less than 80-90% of the CPU (my reasoning as to why its free).

Actually I believe it's because it's cross-platform and the Win32 version needs extra hacks to catch all the screen updates, because some apps (most notably IE) don't redraw their windows like normal Win32 apps.

 

[ivwshane]

What do you mean by "real desktop"?

When I logon locally to a server I get the same exact desktop as when I use TS. I have administrative right's though so I don't know if that affects it.

 

[bot2600]

I guess be real desktop you want the 'one' desktop. If you leave the server not logged in, you can log in and be the only user, you can then disconnect without logging off and the server will continue running whatever you had running, and you can log in later with the same user and see the desktop just how you left it with the same things running. If you want it not to run any of those things all you need to do is log out rather than just closing the session.

 

[vash]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

TightVNC uses a lot of CPU as well. Most VNC implementations are CPU heavy and commercial remote desktop apps consume much less CPU (PCA, Timbuktu, etc). I have yet to see a version of VNC that eats less than 80-90% of the CPU (my reasoning as to why its free).

Actually I believe it's because it's cross-platform and the Win32 version needs extra hacks to catch all the screen updates, because some apps (most notably IE) don't redraw their windows like normal Win32 apps.

Reguardless of the reason why its slow is one thing, but using up nearly 100% of the CPU on a production server isn't really cool. Its pretty difficult for our SQL server to serve pages when its CPU is at 100%.

vash

 

[Nothinman]

So set it's priority at low, or hell use NetMeeting's remote desktop sharing.