Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0)

This article discusses the Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 client update that helps you use the new Terminal Services features. These features are introduced in Windows Vista and in the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 operating system from a computer that is running one of the following operating systems:

• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)
• Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 (SP2)
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2)

The Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 client can be used to connect to legacy terminal servers or to remote desktops as before. However, the new features that are mentioned in this article are available only when the remote computer is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008.

Update information

The following files are available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download the Terminal Services Client 6.0 update for Windows Server 2003 (KB925876) package now.

Download the Terminal Services Client 6.0 update for Windows Server 2003, x64-based versions (KB925876) package now.

Download the Terminal Services Client 6.0 update for Windows XP (KB925876) package now.

Download the Terminal Services Client 6.0 update for Windows XP, x64-based versions (KB925876) package now.

Release Date: November 28, 2006

For more information about how to download Microsoft support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 client update contains the following new features.

Server authentication

In Remote Desktop Connection, server authentication verifies that you are connecting to the correct remote computer or server. This security measure helps prevent you from connecting to a different computer or server than you intend to connect to. This also prevents you from unintentionally exposing confidential information.

By default, server authentication is enabled for the connection. However, if you want to change server authentication settings, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communication, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Options, and then click the Advanced tab.

The three available authentication options are as follows:

• Always connect, even if authentication fails
  If you enable this option, you can connect even if Remote Desktop Connection cannot verify the identity of the remote computer.
• Warn me if authentication fails
  If you enable this option, Remote Desktop Connection cannot verify the identity of the remote computer. This option warns you so that you can decide whether to continue with the connection.
• Don’t connect if authentication fails
  If you enable this option, you cannot connect if Remote Desktop Connection cannot verify the identity of the remote computer.

Resource redirection

The Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 client update helps you redirect Plug and Play devices that support redirection.

To redirect a Plug and Play device, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communication, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Options, click the Local Resources tab, click More, and then click to select the Supported Plug and Play devices check box.

TS Gateway servers

A TS Gateway server is a type of gateway that enables authorized users to connect to remote computers on a corporate network. These authorized users can connect from any computer by using an Internet connection. TS Gateway uses the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) together with the HTTPS protocol to help create a more secure, encrypted connection.

However, earlier versions of Remote Desktop Connection cannot connect to remote computers across firewalls and network address translators. This behavior occurs because port 3389 is typically blocked to enhance network security. Port 3389 is the port that is used for Remote Desktop connections. However, a TS Gateway server uses port 443. Port 443 transmits data through a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) tunnel.

The advantages of a TS Gateway server are as follows:

• It enables Remote Desktop connections to a corporate network from the Internet without setting up a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
• It enables connections to remote computers across firewalls.
• It helps you share a network connection with other programs that are running on the computer. This enables you to use the Internet service provider (ISP) connection instead of the corporate network to send and receive data over the remote connection.

To specify a TS Gateway server, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communication, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Options, click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings.
3. Click Use these TS Gateway server settings, type the server name in the Server name box, and then select one of the following logon methods from the Logon methods list:
   • Allow me to select later
     This option lets you select a logon method when you connect.
   • Ask for password
     This option prompts you for a password when you connect.
   • Smart card
     This option prompts you to insert a smart card when you connect.
4. Click to select or click to clear the Bypass TS Gateway server for local addresses check box. By selecting this check box, you prevent the traffic that is moving to and from local network addresses from being routed through the TS Gateway server. This makes the connection faster.

Terminal Services Remote Programs

Remote Programs are a feature of Windows Server Terminal Services that lets client computers connect to a remote computer and use programs that are installed on it. For example, a workplace may have a remote computer to which employees can connect and run Microsoft Word. An administrator must first publish the programs for end-users to access them. The experience is the same as running a program that is installed on the computer.

Remote Programs make system administration easier because there is only one copy of a program to upgrade or to maintain instead of many copies that are installed on individual computers.

Monitor spanning

Remote Desktop Connection supports high-resolution displays that can be spanned across multiple monitors. However, the total resolution on all monitors must be under 4096 x 2048 pixels. The monitors must have the same resolution. Additionally, the monitors must be aligned side-by-side.

To have the desktop of the remote computer span multiple monitors, type Mstsc /span at a command prompt.

Visual improvements

Remote Desktop Connection now supports 32-bit color and font smoothing.

To enable 32-bit color, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communication, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Options, click the Display tab, and then click Highest Quality (32 bit) in the Colors list.

To enable font smoothing, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click Communication, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
2. Click Options, click the Experience tab, and then click to select the Font smoothing check box.

Known issues

• If you install a version of Remote Desktop Client 6.0 that was released before April 24, 2007, on a computer that is running Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1, and then you upgrade to Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, you may experience the following issues:
  1. Remote Desktop Client 6.0 (KB925876) does not appear in the "Add or Remove Programs" item in Control Panel on the Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2-based computer. Therefore, you cannot uninstall Remote Desktop Client 6.0 (KB925876).
  2. Files that are associated with Remote Desktop Client 6.0 are no longer signed.
  To work around this issue if you have not installed Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, uninstall the version of Remote Desktop Client 6.0 that was released before April 24, 2007, install the version of Remote Desktop Client 6.0 that was released on April 24, 2007, and then install Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.
  
  If you have installed Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, re-install Remote Desktop Client 6.0.
• When Remote Desktop Connection runs on wide displays or when it spans multiple displays, it may report incorrect values for the GetWindowExtEx() function. Therefore, some applications may display distorted graphics.

For more information and frequently asked questions about Remote Desktop Connection for Windows Vista, visit the following web site: