Windows 2000 Terminal Server & remote desktop

[Booty]

I was thinking about using some form of VNC to control our Win2k machines when I needed to, but came across a post in another forum where I guy mentioned that a 2k machine could act as a Terminal Services Server 'using the (Windows 2000) server's CAL'. I'm assuming he means that, as long as you were either remoting into the server or the workstation, but not both, you could do it using Terminal Services.

I've got our 2000 servers setup so I can use remote desktop from my XP workstation to manage them, but... is this guy correct in thinking you can set this up to do the same on 2000 workstations? I didn't think you could, but thought I'd get clarification before I dropped something like TightVNC on these things.

 

[MrChad]

XP Professional has Remote Desktop capabilities, but 2000 Professional does not. I think you'll need TightVNC.

 

[Booty]

Well, there's a downloadable RD 'client' for 9x and 2k that will allow you to connect to an XP machine running an RD server. I haven't yet installed that, but am going to try throwing it on a 2k workstation to see if it will connect to the 2k server(s). If so, then it's just a matter of whether there's a way to get the termial services server running on a 2k (non-server) box.

I don't think it's possible, but I've been wrong before - figured I'd go ahead and try to find out.

edit: Yep, that works fine. So it's just a matter of whether a 2k workstation can actually run as a Terminal Services 'server'. I know it can't (or isn't supposed to) by default, but it'd be nice if there was a way to get it to. Remote Desktop can be so handy, and I knowing how cheap the owner is (as most owners are), we won't be replacing the 2k machines any time soon.

 

[nweaver]

no, there is no terminal server (Meaning, the server, that you connect to) for 2k Pro.

 

[vegetation]

Not possible. Look for a VNC solution.

 

[Podolak]

I agree with these guys. My company uses terminal services and Citrix quite a bit. The only way for you to connect to your 2k Pro machine is via VNC, PC Anywhere or some such program as that. You'll be unable to use RDP to connect to the 2k Pro machine.

 

[gwag]

OT- but if you need a cheap terminal server You can hack an XP pro box with an SP2 beta .dll. I have run 3 concurent connections with out logging out the loged in user.

 

[Booty]

Just an update for those interested:

I stumbled across this page the other day and gave it a shot - it worked beautifully. I can push out one of about a dozen VNC distrobutions in about 10-30 seconds (depending on what branch I'm connecting to) and get right in. There's a bunch of options I haven't even played with on it yet, but it saved me a ton of driving the last couple days.

I'm sure I could have probably found an .msi package somewhere for a VNC server, but this was faster and easier for now (I haven't learned to roll my own .msi's yet, and would rather do that than trust one put out by an unknown source) - hopefully someone else finds this helpful/useful.