configure RDP in XP Pro to not require a password?

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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I want to run my F@H GPU crunching box headless. I also want it to be able to auto-start, once I turn it on.

RDP says that I need a password to be able to login. But if I create a password, Windows will not auto-login my account, it will sit at the user account menu screen, waiting for my password.

Is there a way around this? Either by having windows auto-login with a password (TweakUI used to be able to do this, didn't it), or by allowing RDP to function, without a password? Does anyone know how to do the latter?


I also need to test whether or not logging in via RDP screws with the video drivers, in such a way that it cuts off access to the GPUs that are crunching.
 

masteryoda34

Golden Member
Dec 17, 2007
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You cannot use RDP without a password. Microsoft did this for obvious security reasons.

Solutions:

1. Autologon, you should be able to get this to work. What version of windows are you running?

2. Use an alternate program like UltraVNC and leave the windows password empty.
 

hanspeter

Member
Nov 5, 2008
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You can save your rdp profile with your username and password. That should work.

You can edit the local policies and allow for blank passwords.
 

bsobel

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Dec 9, 2001
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Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
I want to run my F@H GPU crunching box headless. I also want it to be able to auto-start, once I turn it on.

You can use srvany to make it into a service.

Is there a way around this? Either by having windows auto-login with a password (TweakUI used to be able to do this, didn't it), or by allowing RDP to function, without a password? Does anyone know how to do the latter?

Tweak UI still supports setting a login pw, so this would work as well.

I also need to test whether or not logging in via RDP screws with the video drivers, in such a way that it cuts off access to the GPUs that are crunching.

It should not, for lack of a better description the terminal service sessions are run in a virtual adapter.

 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
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Originally posted by: bsobel
I also need to test whether or not logging in via RDP screws with the video drivers, in such a way that it cuts off access to the GPUs that are crunching.

It should not, for lack of a better description the terminal service sessions are run in a virtual adapter.

Well, I tried it last night, and it does cut off access between the GPU clients and the GPU driver.
So RDP isn't going to work for me. I tried UltraVNC, finally got it up and running, but it lags. With "auto" settings (over gigE), it had almost a 10s lag updating the screen, but manually selecting RAW encoding and disabling compression, got me down to 1-2s lag. This is without the "mirror" driver loaded, because I heard that interferes with the GPUs the same way RDP does. But on the whole, it works, and it doesn't interfere.
 

bsobel

Moderator Emeritus<br>Elite Member
Dec 9, 2001
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Well, I tried it last night, and it does cut off access between the GPU clients and the GPU driver.

Sorry Larry, read that backwards. What I meant is if the folding client is running as a service (via srvany), then connecting via rdp shouldn't affect its ability to use the gpu. I misread what you said and now realize you wanted to log into the account in question vs just another account on the box.

 

stash

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2000
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Originally posted by: masteryoda34
You cannot use RDP without a password. Microsoft did this for obvious security reasons.

This is true by default, but easily changed through gpedit.msc-->computer config/windows settings/security settings/local policies/security options. I forget the exact policy, but it should be there.