Only certain Windows 7, Vista, and XP machines can act as Remote Desktop hosts, all Windows 7, Vista, and XP computers can initiate a Remote Desktop connection to a host (that is, they can act as Remote Desktop clients). In this section, you learn how to prepare the clients and make the connection.
Getting the Client Computer Ready
You must install the Remote Desktop Connection software on the client computer. This software is already installed in all versions of Windows 7 and Windows Vista. If you’re running Windows XP on the client, you can install the Remote Desktop Connection software from the Windows XP CD (if you have one):
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Insert the Windows XP CD, and wait for the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen to appear.
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2.
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Click Perform Additional Tasks.
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3.
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Click Set Up Remote Desktop Connection.
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Tip
You can also download the latest client software from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/tools/rdclientdl.mspx.
In addition, you can use this client if you’re running Windows XP and don’t have access to the XP install disc.
If you have a Mac machine running OS X connected to your network, you can initiate a session with any Remote Desktop host and even share files between the two computers. The Remote Desktop Connection Client for Mac is available from Microsoft at www.microsoft.com/mac/remote-desktop-client.
If you have a Linux box on your network, you can use rdesktop as a Remote Desktop Protocol client. You can download the software at www.rdesktop.org/.
Making the Connection to the Remote Desktop
On the client computer, you can now connect to the host computer’s desktop. Follow these steps:
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Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, Remote Desktop Connection. (In Windows XP, select Start, All Programs, Accessories, Remote Desktop Connection.) The Remote Desktop Connection dialog box appears.
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In the Computer text box, type the name or the IP address of the host computer.
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If you don’t want to customize Remote Desktop, skip to step 10. Otherwise, click Options to expand the dialog box to the version shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Clicking the Options button expands the dialog box so that you can customize Remote Desktop.
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The General tab offers the following additional options:
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The Display tab offers three options for controlling the look of the Remote Desktop window:
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The Local Resources tab offers three options for controlling certain interactions between the client and host:
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Click More to see the Remote Desktop Connection dialog box. Use the following check boxes to configure more client devices and resources on the host. (Click OK when you’re done.)
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Use the Programs tab to specify a program to run on connection. Activate the Start the Following Program on Connection check box, and then use the Program Path and File Name text box to specify the program to run. After connecting, the user can work with only this program. When he quits the program, the session also ends.
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Use the Experience tab (the Windows 7 version is shown in Figure 2) to set performance options for the connection. Use the Choose Your Connection Speed to Optimize Performance drop-down list to set the appropriate connection speed. Because you’re connecting over a network, you should choose the LAN (10 Mbps or higher) option. Depending on the connection speed you choose, one or more of the following check boxes will be activated. (The faster the speed, the more check boxes Windows activates.)
Figure 2. Use the Experience tab to set performance options for the connection.
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10.
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In Windows 7 or Vista, type the username and password of the host account you want to use for the logon, and then click OK. (Note that in subsequent logons, you’ll only need to type the password.)
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If you activated the Disk Drives or Serial Ports check boxes in the Local Resources tab, a security warning dialog box appears. If you’re sure that making these resources available to the remote computer is safe, activate the Don’t Prompt Me Again for Connections to This Remote Computer check box. Click OK.
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The remote desktop then appears on your computer. If you choose to work in full-screen mode, move the mouse to the top of the screen to see the connection bar, shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3. After you’ve connected and the remote computer’s desktop appears on your screen, move the mouse to the top of the screen to see the connection bar.
If you want the connection bar to appear all the time, click to activate the Pin button. You can also grab the connection bar and drag it left or right if it’s pinned and blocking something on the screen. If you need to work with your own desktop, you have two choices:
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Click the connection bar’s Minimize button to minimize the Remote Desktop window.
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Click the connection bar’s Restore button to display the Remote Desktop window.
Disconnecting from the Remote Desktop
When you finish with the Remote Desktop session, you have two choices for disconnecting:
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Using the host desktop, select Start, Log Off.
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Click the Close button in the connection bar. Windows displays a dialog box to let you know that your remote session will be disconnected. Click OK.