How to use Remote Desktop Connection ?

CONFIGURING THE HOST

You must be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to enable Remote Desktop on your Windows XP Professional-based computer.

STEPS

1. Open the System folder in Control Panel. Click Start > Control Panel > Performance and Maintenance, and then click the System icon.

2. On the Remote tab, select the Allow users to connect remotely to this computer check box, as shown below.

3. Ensure that you have the proper permissions to connect to your computer remotely, and click OK.

4. Leave your computer running and connected to the company network with Internet access.

The Remote Procedure Call (RPC) service must be set to automatic and started. Also Terminal Services service set to automatic or manual and started.

STEPS

1. Go to Start > Run. Type "services.msc". Press enter.

2. Review the RPC and Terminal Services settings. Double click on these services to make setting changes, if necessary.

Last piece of information you will need from the host machine is the hostname or ip address.

However, using the hostname is recommended. The hostname of a system does not change automatically. Most systemsat LBNL are configured to obtain their ip address via dhcp in which case the ip address may change over time.

If the host system is configured with a static ip address, the ip address stays the same.

Open command prompt (Go to Start > Run and then type "cmd")

c:\> hostname

c:\> ipconfig

CONNECTING FROM THE CLIENT

STEPS

1. Open Remote Desktop Connection. (Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Communications > Remote Desktop Connection.)

OR

Go to Start > Run and put "mstsc" and press enter.

2. In computer, type the hostname or IP address of host machine.

3. You can set options also. (Click options. Provide Local resources like disk drive, printers etc. Provide domain, if applicable)

4. Click Connect.

You can also save the connection settings by any name as a file with .rdp extension. 

5. After connecting, Log On Windows dialog box will appear.

In the Log On to Windows dialog box, type your user name, password, and domain (if required), and then click OK.

The Remote Desktop window will open and you will see the desktop settings, files, and programs that are on the host machine.

Your host machine will remain locked.